UK Boxing
“I was nervous” – Tony Yoka reacts to Lawrence Okolie’s failed test
Tony Yoka has broken his silence on Lawrence Okolie’s failed test that canceled their scheduled heavyweight fight.
On Saturday in Paris, Yoka was scheduled to face Okolie in a fierce heavyweight fight.
But on Tuesday, the Briton failed a VADA test, reportedly for GHRP 2 and its metabolite M8, a synthetic substance that stimulates the body to release human growth hormone.
Promoter Frank Warren tried to find a slow replacement, but later canceled the entire show.
Yoka (33) admits that he was bitterly disappointed with the situation.
“I was disappointed because I wanted to fight,” said the 33-year-old talkSPORT.
“Of course I was ready.
“It’s not like it happened a few months before, it was three, four days before the fight.
“It was a great opportunity.
“It would have put me in a really good position, so it really worried me.
“What was more disappointing to me was that they just canceled the entire show, but I understand it’s a business.”
The Frenchman says he won’t wait too long and has been told he will either fight on the card Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois May 9 in Manchester or on the bill Dave Allen vs Filip Hrgovic on May 16 in Doncaster.
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Okolie, the WBC’s number one contender for Oleksandr Usyk’s title, promised in a statement to clear his name.
“Before anyone starts imagining the worst, after last year’s bicep injury, I suffered an elbow injury on the same shoulder during this camp.
“I underwent treatment and now we are here.
“I hope common sense will prevail.
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“I will of course cooperate fully with all relevant authorities and I am confident that any investigation will clear my name.
“I will not be making any further comments at this time.
“Thank you for all your support and see you soon.”
The post “I Was Nervous” – Tony Yoka’s Reaction to Lawrence Okolie’s Failed Test appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
On Wednesday, Lewis Crocker heads to Australia to defend his IBF welterweight world title against Liam Paro for the first time.
Crocker will face Paro at the Pat Rafter Arena in Queensland, live on DAZN in the UK and Kayo Sports in Australia.
Crocker (22-0, 11 KO) became world champion in September, defeating Paddy Donovan twice before winning the rematch by split decision.
Man from Belfast recorded his second victory over Donovan after the first victory in March last year, and his rival was disqualified for hitting him after the bell.
Paro (27-1, 16 KO) is trying to become a world champion in two weight categories, having previously reigned in the super-lightweight division.
The 30-year-old won the title with a unanimous decision victory over Subriel Matias in Puerto Rico before winning the belt in his first defense against Richardson Hitchins.
The Australian has since won twice, overtaking David Papot in his last appearance in September.
McKean meets Taliva
Heavyweight Demsey McKean will look to continue his rebuild when he faces Liam Talivaa for the vacant IBF Pan Pacific title.
McKean (24-2, 16 KO) had his career cut miniature after a last-round loss to Filip Hrgovic, followed by a brutal first-round loss to Moses Itauma.
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The 35-year-old southpaw returned to winning ways with back-to-back stoppage victories.
Talivaa (8-2, 4 KO) last won the IBF Oceania-Orient title, defeating Faiga Opelu by first-round stoppage.
Undercard remaining
At cruiserweight, Luke Modini (13-0, 11 KO) will likely need distance to beat Peng Qu (17-2-1, 12 KO), while Riley Candy (8-1, 5 KO) could stop Nathan Watson (11-3, 3 KO) at super middleweight.
Vegas Larfield (13-1, 9 KO) can hand Shamal Ram Anuj (11-8, 8 KO) his fourth defeat in a row in a featherweight clash.
Heavyweight Nelson Asofa-Solomon (2-0, 2 KO) can secure a third straight knockout over debutant George Burgess, and Stevan Ivic (8-0-1, 2 KO) can do the same against Caleb Tialu (3-7, 3 KO), also a heavyweight.
Prospective super welterweight fighter Jack Javed (1-0) should overtake Lance McDonald (1-5-1, 1 KO).
The post Lewis Crocker vs. Liam Paro – Gigantic Fight Preview and Predictions appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
On Saturday in Brooklyn, Xander Zayas will defend his WBO and WBA super welterweight world titles against Jaron Ennis.
Zayas (23-0, 13 KO) will face former welterweight champion Ennis (35-0, 31 KO) at the Barclays Center.
Zayas unified the division in his last outing in January, adding Abbas Baraou’s WBA crown to his WBO title in his native Puerto Rico.
The 23-year-old extended his undefeated record to 23 consecutive professional victories.
Ennis is trying to become a world champion in two weight classes, having previously reigned as the unified champion at 147 pounds.
The 28-year-old made his debut at 154 pounds in October blowing away Uisma Lima in the first round in his hometown of Philadelphia, improving his undefeated record to 35-0.
Zayas vs Ennis – date, place, start time and ring walk
- The fight between both fighters will take place on Saturday, June 27, live at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Modern York
- Broadcast will start at 8pm ET/5pm PT/1am BST (Sunday)
- Main event will start around 10:45 PM ET / 7:45 PM PT / 3:45 AM BST (Sunday)
Zayas vs. Ennis – how to watch
- The card can be watched live worldwide on DAZN
Zayas vs. Ennis – last three fights
Xander Zayas
- Xander Zayas bt Abass Baraou – split decision
- Xander Zayas bt Jorge Garcia Perez – unanimous decision
- Xander Zayas bt Sława Spomer – TKO in the 9th round
Jaron Ennis
- Jaron Ennis bt Uisma Lima – TKO in the 1st round
- Jaron Ennis bt Eimantas Stanionis – 6th round RTD
- Jaron Ennis bt Karen Chukhadjian – unanimous decision
Zayas vs Ennis – Undercard
- Emiliano Vargas (17-0, 14 KO) vs. Bryce Mills (22-1, 9 KO) – WBC USA Silver, WBO Latino, NABF Junior junior titles (10 rounds)
- Ben Whittaker (11-0-1, 8 KO) vs. Richard Rivera (27-2, 20 KO) – WBC silver airy heavyweight title (10 rounds)
- Jahi Tucker (16-1-1, 7 KO) vs. Euri Cedeno (14-0-1, 12 KO) – IBF North American, WBC USA, WBO NABO middleweight titles (10 rounds)
- Dennis Thompson (10-0, 6 KO) vs Edwin Rodriguez (12-11-3, 5 KO) – super bantamweight (8 rounds)
- Quincey Williams (6-0, 6 KO) vs Jerome Baxter (8-1, 3 KO) – welterweight (8 rounds)
- Juanma Lopez De Jesus (5-0, 2 KO) vs. Alberto Motos (6-2) – super flyweight (6 rounds)
The post Xander Zayas vs. Jaron Ennis – how to watch it appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
Lewis Crocker returns to the ring this week and faces Liam Paro.
Paro is Crocker’s first defense IBF welterweight world title.
He has been out of the ring since September 2025, when he appeared in the long-awaited rematch with Paddy Donovan.
After falling behind before the first fight was stopped due to Donovan’s disqualification, he entered the second fight as an underdog.
“The Croc” put on a great performance and proved the bookies wrong by taking down and dropping Donovan multiple times throughout the fight.
With the victory, Crocker became the IBF world champion in his hometown of Belfast.
His opponent, Paro, has only one defeat to his name. It came against Richardson Hitchins in 2024, when he was on the wrong side of a split decision.
Since that loss, he has picked up two victories, defeating Jonathan Navarro and most recently David Papot, who will be Harlem Eubank’s next opponent in July.
Crocker vs Paro – date, place, start time and ring walk
- The pairs fight will take place on Wednesday, June 24, live from the Pat Rafter Arena in Queensland, Australia
- Broadcast will start at 8:00 BST / 3:00 ET / 12:00 PT
- The main event will start around 1:00 p.m. BST / 8:00 a.m. ET / 5:00 a.m. PT
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Crocker vs. Paro – how to watch
- The pass can be watched live on Kayo Sports in Australia and DAZN in the UK
Crocker vs. Paro – last three fights
Lewis Crocker
- Lewis Crocker vs. Paddy Donovan – split decision
- Lewis Crocker vs. Paddy Donovan – disqualification
- Lewis Crocker vs. Conah Walker – unanimous decision
STEP
@lewiscrocker1 goes 20-0 with UD victory over Conah Walker and takes the WBA International welterweight title back to Belfast!
96-93, 96-93, 95-94#CrockerWalker #DennyCash pic.twitter.com/YNGePNzmlB
— Boxing at Matchroom (@MatchroomBoxing) June 22, 2024
Liam Paro
- Liam Paro vs David Papot – unanimous decision
- Liam Paro bt Jonathan Navarro – 5th round RTD
- Richardson Hitchins bt Liam Paro – split decision
Crocker vs. Paro – Undercard
- Dempsey McKean vs Liam Talivaa – vacant IBF Pan Pacific heavyweight title (10 rounds)
- Luke Modini vs. Peng Qu – cruiserweight (10 rounds)
- Riley Candy vs. Nathan Watson – super middleweight (5 rounds)
- Vegas Larfield vs Shamal Ram Anuj – featherweight (5 rounds)
- Nelson Asofa-Solomon vs. George Burgess – heavyweight (4 rounds)
- Jack Javed vs Lance McDonald – super welterweight (4 rounds)
- Stevan Ivic vs Caleb Tialu – heavyweight (4 rounds)
The post Lewis Crocker vs. Liam Paro – how to watch it appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
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