Back Injury Sidelines Tony Yoka From WBA Title Bout
Promoters are considering Joe Joyce as a replacement after Yoka withdrew with a back injury from the July 11 heavyweight title fight, sources said.
- On Thursday, French heavyweight Tony Yoka withdrew from his WBA "regular" title fight against Murat Gassiev in Moscow due to a back injury. The bout was scheduled for July 11.
- Gassiev, previously the secondary "regular" world champion, is set to inherit the belt relinquished by Ukrainian "super champion" Oleksandr Usyk last month.
- Brit Joe Joyce is a potential replacement for Yoka, sources told ESPN, while Yoka's April bout against Lawrence Okolie was canceled after Okolie returned an adverse drug test.
- The heavyweight division remains fragmented following Usyk's title vacation, with German boxer Agit Kabayel recently declared WBC champion and Britain's Daniel Dubois holding the WBO belt.
- Boxing journalist Dan Rafel reported the withdrawal of the 2016 Olympic champion, which Equipe confirmed on Thursday, leaving the Moscow event's main card in flux.
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Boxing-Injured Yoka ruled out of WBA heavyweight fight with Gassiev
PARIS, July 2 - French heavyweight Tony Yoka has been ruled out of a WBA title bout with Russia's Murat Gassiev due to a back injury, L'Equipe and other media reported on Thursday. Read more at straitstimes.com.
The 2016 Olympic champion is expected to face Russian Murat Gassiev on 11 July in Moscow.
Yoka Injured, New Foe Sought For Gassiev
French heavyweight contender Tony Yoka has been ruled out of his scheduled WBA Heavyweight title bout with reigning champion Murat Gassiev due to a back injury sustained during training camp. IBA Pro can confirm that the show on Saturday July 11th at Moscow’s VTB Arena will go ahead, however, with a replacement opponent for Gassiev’s first defence of his WBA title set to be announced imminently. One of the sport’s premier power-punchers, Gassiev…
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