The 42-year-old veteran heavyweight Carlos Takam scored a points victory over Olympic gold medallist Tony Yoka in Paris; Takam has now turned his attention to a possible future contest with Martin Bakole
Sunday 12 March 2023 11:35, UK
Carlos Takam may be 42 years old, an age at which most boxers would be long retired. But he stunned Olympic gold medallist Tony Yoka in Paris on Saturday, handing the French star a damaging second consecutive defeat.
But Takam wants more. He is demanding further big fights and called out Martin Bakole, the heavyweight who beat Yoka previously.
"The big lion in the forest is not going to leave his play for a little one," Takam roared after his victory. "Is Martin Bakole ready? I want Sky to organise that fight.
"Martin Bakole's like a little brother to me, like Tony."
Takam was gracious after the fight. He had won over the crowd at Zenith de Paris with his performance, but objected to his new supporters booing Yoka immediately after the fight.
"I was not happy with that. Seriously that guy is an Olympic gold medallist. He was a world champion amateur. They cannot say that. You see when [Anthony] Joshua fights, everybody's behind Joshua. They say, 'Go, go AJ.' That guy, he needs support, I'm a big supporter. I'm a big fan of Tony," Takam told Sky Sports. "Because I've seen him grow up.
"I just want to say congratulations to Tony. Some people are going to say, 'Yes, he lost, he's finished.' No, he's not finished."
It was a remark that Yoka himself greatly appreciated. "It makes me feel more confident about the reputation that I have and the only thing I need to do is get back to work," he told Sky Sports.
"Tough fight, I'm really disappointed because compared to last year, last year I had a really bad camp, this time I had a really good camp.
"He had time to really get ready for this one. He did a perfect fight technically. So that means I need to go back and work."
Takam was however concerned at the result being a split decision, when he had appeared to dominate the contest.
"Of course, I was worried, because in the last round I hurt my shoulder. I could not move [his right arm]. I was like, 'Oh it's finished,'" he said. "Oh my God, what am I going to do? But I tried, I worked my jab, I worked my hook, my left hook. I tried everything to win that fight.
"I'm feeling good. I prepared really hard for that fight. I want to say in that camp, I worked like crazy," he continued. "Tony I have respect for him.
"I'm really happy for that victory because it was not easy."
