Paris, France - Tony Yoka, the Olympic gold medalist, is set to step into the ring against Belgium’s Ryad Merhy on December 9th in a bid to reverse his recent misfortunes.

The heavyweight boxer, with an 11-2 record and 9 knockouts, has faced a turbulent journey since his triumph over Joe Joyce in the Rio 2016 finals. Questions linger over the legitimacy of that win, coupled with a suspensions. Yoka's subsequent defeats against Martin Bakole and Carlos Takam painted a less surprising picture in hindsight.

Merhy, at 31-2 with 26 knockouts, poses a softer challenge compared to Yoka's recent opponents. Having spent most of his career as a cruiserweight, Merhy faced setbacks against Arsen Goulamirian in a 2018 interim title bout. With Yoka towering over him by eight inches and likely holding a 20-pound weight advantage, anything less than a dominant performance would raise doubts about Yoka's trajectory.

Despite being just 31 years old, considered young in the heavyweight division, Yoka boasts remarkable physical prowess. While a turnaround isn’t impossible, there's a lingering skepticism about his potential. The upcoming fight against Merhy will serve as a litmus test, leaving the question of whether Yoka will settle for opponents like Merhy or aim for another ascent in the sport.

As the date approaches, eyes will be on Yoka to see if he can use this bout as a springboard for his redemption or if it will mark a definitive crossroads in his boxing journey.