Joe Joyce (16-4, 15 KO) is set to reignite his rivalry with Olympic foe Tony Yoka (14-3, 11 KO) when the two clash on July 19th, featured on the undercard of the undisputed heavyweight title bout between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois.
According to French outlet L’Équipe, the pair are set to square off at London’s Wembley Stadium, a clash that feels like a career-defining shootout for both men, who have struggled to live up to the high expectations following their 2016 Olympic final.
‘The Juggernaut’ is coming off his fourth career defeat, a unanimous decision loss to Croatian contender Filip Hrgović in April, which has led many to question whether Joyce should continue his boxing career at all.
Frenchman Yoka has also faced setbacks in his professional career, suffering three consecutive defeats in 10-round bouts against Martin Bakole, Carlos Takam, and Ryad Merhy.
Yoka has enjoyed a modest career resurgence over the past 18 months, notching three consecutive wins, the most recent a unanimous decision over previously undefeated Arslan Yallyev earlier this month.
Joe Joyce And Tony Yoka Share Historic Amateur Rivalry
Joe Joyce and Tony Yoka enter the bout with a storied amateur rivalry, most notably marked by Yoka’s controversial decision win over Joyce in the 2016 Olympic super-heavyweight final.
Yoka claimed Olympic gold with a split decision victory over Joyce, a result that sparked controversy, as many believed the British boxer had won every round, having out-landed Yoka 99 punches to 47 over three three-minute rounds.
“I won every round. I outpointed him every round, and hit him with loads more shots if you look at the stats,” said Joyce reflecting on the final.
Yoka is eager to set the record straight and prove to the boxing world that he is the superior fighter, welcoming the rematch in the professional ranks after previously taking aim at Joyce in a pointed social media post.
The Controversial Olympic Final and Amateur Pedigree
The 2016 Rio Olympics super-heavyweight final between Joe Joyce and Tony Yoka remains a significant talking point in their shared history. Yoka, representing France, clinched the gold medal with a split decision over Great Britain’s Joyce. The scorecards read 30-27 for Yoka on one judge’s card, 29-28 for Yoka on another, and 29-28 for Joyce on the third, a verdict that was met with boos from the crowd. Many observers felt Joyce had done enough to win, having been the busier fighter throughout the three-round contest. Joyce himself stated, “I won every round. I outpointed him every round, and hit him with loads more shots if you look at the stats.”
Prior to this contentious final, both fighters had impressive amateur careers. Yoka, born April 28, 1992, had already secured a bronze medal at the 2015 European Games and a gold medal at the 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships, which earned him his spot in Rio. His path to the Olympic final included victories over Hussein Ishaish and Filip Hrgović. Joyce, born September 19, 1985, also boasted a strong amateur record, winning gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2015 European Games, as well as a bronze at the 2015 World Championships. His journey to the gold medal bout saw him defeat Davilson dos Santos Morais, Bakhodir Jalolov, and Ivan Dychko. The Olympic final was their third encounter, with each having secured a win against the other previously, making the Rio clash a rubber match.
Recent Professional Trajectories: A Tale of Two Careers
Since turning professional, both Joyce and Yoka have experienced a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Joe Joyce, known as “The Juggernaut,” made his professional debut on October 19, 2017, with an 8th-round TKO victory over Ian Lewison. He quickly rose through the ranks, securing notable wins and titles. He stopped Lenroy Thomas in the second round to win the Commonwealth Heavyweight title in only his fourth professional bout, breaking a 106-year record. Other significant victories include a 10th-round knockout over Daniel Dubois in November 2020 to claim the British, Commonwealth, European, WBC Silver, and WBO International heavyweight titles, and an 11th-round knockout of Joseph Parker in September 2022 to win the vacant WBO interim heavyweight title. Joyce’s professional record currently stands at 16 wins (15 by KO) and 4 losses.
However, Joyce’s career has hit a challenging patch recently. He suffered two consecutive stoppage losses to Chinese heavyweight Zhilei Zhang in 2023. The first defeat came on April 15, 2023, via a 6th-round TKO at the Copper Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Hackney Wick, where Zhang’s left hand caused significant swelling to Joyce’s right eye, leading to a doctor’s stoppage. The rematch on September 23, 2023, at Wembley Arena saw Zhang deliver a brutal 3rd-round knockout, further derailing Joyce’s momentum. Following these, Joyce was outpointed by Derek Chisora on July 27, 2024, at The O2 Arena in London, losing by unanimous decision. His most recent outing on April 5, 2025, at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, resulted in a unanimous decision loss to Filip Hrgović, with scorecards of 97-93, 96-95, and 98-92. Hrgović, who took the fight on short notice, landed numerous right hands, leaving Joyce to absorb significant punishment. Post-fight, Hrgović suggested Joyce should consider retirement, stating, “punches are not vitamins.” Despite the setbacks, Joyce has expressed his desire to continue, telling reporters, “I enjoyed the fight actually but it’s unfortunate I didn’t get the decision.”
Tony Yoka’s professional journey also began with high expectations after his Olympic gold. He turned professional in June 2017, making his debut with a 2nd-round KO win over Travis Clark in Paris. Yoka quickly compiled an undefeated record, stopping opponents like Dave Allen, Michael Wallisch, Johann Duhaupas, Christian Hammer, and Petar Milas. He won the vacant European Union heavyweight title by TKO in the twelfth round against Joel Tambwe Djeko in March 2021. However, Yoka’s momentum stalled with a series of losses. His first professional defeat came on May 14, 2022, against Martin Bakole, losing by majority decision at the Accord Hotels Arena in Paris, a fight where he suffered two knockdowns. This was followed by a split decision loss to Carlos Takam on March 11, 2023, at Zenith de Paris-La Villette, Paris. The scorecards for the Takam fight were 96-94, 94-96, and 96-94, with Takam taking two of the three. His third consecutive defeat was a split decision loss to Ryad Merhy on December 9, 2023, at Stade Roland Garros, Paris. After these setbacks, Yoka made a change in his training regimen, switching from Virgil Hunter to Don Charles. He has since embarked on a modest resurgence, securing two low-key victories in the UK in 2024, before his unanimous decision win over the previously undefeated Arslan Yallyev (16-0, 10 KOs) on May 17, 2025, at the Adidas Arena in Paris, France. Yoka’s current professional record stands at 15 wins (12 by KO) and 3 losses.
A Pivotal Rematch on a Blockbuster Card
The upcoming July 19th clash at Wembley Stadium is more than just a rematch; it’s a critical juncture for both Joyce and Yoka. For Joyce, it represents a chance to halt a concerning slide in his career and prove that he can still compete at an elite level. His recent performances have raised questions about his durability and future prospects. For Yoka, it’s an opportunity to solidify his recent winning streak against a recognized name and definitively settle the score with his Olympic nemesis in the professional ranks. A victory for either man could reignite their world title aspirations in a competitive heavyweight division.
Adding to the grandeur of the event, the Joyce-Yoka rematch is positioned on the undercard of the highly anticipated undisputed heavyweight title bout between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois. This main event, also taking place at Wembley Stadium, is a rematch of their first encounter on August 26, 2023, in Wrocław, Poland, where Usyk defeated Dubois via knockout in the 9th round. Usyk, with an unbeaten professional record of 24-0 (15 KOs), secured the undisputed heavyweight championship for the second time in his career by defeating Dubois via 5th-round knockout on July 19, 2025, at Wembley Stadium. Usyk dominated the fight, dropping Dubois in the fifth round with a right hand before finishing him with a left hook. This blockbuster main event ensures a massive global audience, providing an ideal stage for Joyce and Yoka to showcase their talents and potentially redefine their legacies. The stakes could not be higher for both Olympic medallists as they look to carve out a path back to the top of the heavyweight division.
