Joka plans to continue his career in the UK

Tony Yoka. Getty Images
Tony Yoka. Getty Images

Trainer Don Charles, known primarily for his work with heavyweights, wants to try to get Tony Yoki 's (11-3, 9 KOs) career back on track. The Olympic heavyweight champion from Rio 2016 has a losing streak of three straight defeats on his record - to Bakole, Takam and Merhi. For the Frenchman, who will soon celebrate his 32nd birthday, this could be his last chance to get back into the serious game.

"Since the Rio Olympics, Tony has only boxed at home in France. However, now he lives in England, so we are trying to organize a fight for him here. He wants to revive his career, which is at a crossroads. In the future, for example, a very interesting fight with Joe Joyce awaits him as a rematch of the Olympic final, in which, according to many, Joyce was sued by the judges. 'Not now, but in the future such a confrontation should be of great interest to the fans,' states the British trainer.

"I still believe he can achieve a lot. He has been with us for over four months now and now we are trying to move him from Olympic boxing to professional boxing because I don't think he has undergone that transformation yet. In Olympic boxing he beat Parker, Hrgovic and Joyce and look where they are now and where he is. Tony has to stand much taller and the audience will soon see a change in his boxing," Charles added.