Tony Yoka Narrowly Defeats Arslan Yallyev in Paris Return

Paris, France - After three consecutive losses and mounting pressure from fans and media alike, French heavyweight Tony Yoka managed to edge out a unanimous decision win over Arslan Yallyev on Saturday night, May 17, at the Adidas Arena in Paris.

The scores read 96-94, 98-92, and 97-93, all for Yoka — though the decision has sparked widespread debate online and in French boxing circles.

Early Struggles, Mid-Fight Chaos

Yoka began the fight with visible intent, throwing sharp combinations and trying to close the distance early. But it was clear from the opening rounds that Yallyev, the undefeated Russian, had come to win. His precise counters, clean uppercuts, and controlled pace left Yoka flustered at times, particularly in rounds 3 and 5.

In round 5, Yoka was visibly hurt by an uppercut and sustained a bloody nose. He soldiered on but looked uncomfortable, absorbing accurate shots as Yallyev found his rhythm and exposed the gaps in Yoka’s guard. At that point, some at ringside were already whispering about another French setback.

Second Wind and Late Rally

To his credit, Yoka fought back in the middle rounds. He upped the tempo in round 8, landing a string of clean shots and pushing Yallyev into a more defensive shell. Still, even in the moments Yoka shone, the Russian stayed composed and continued to land with sharper timing and better efficiency.

Yoka’s rally wasn’t dominant, but it was enough to show effort and regain control on the scorecards. The French crowd chanted “Tony! Tony! Tony!” as their Olympic gold medalist dug deep in the later rounds. By round 10, both men were visibly fatigued. Yallyev, remarkably fresh, pushed forward — but Yoka avoided major damage and kept the distance.

Judges Deliver, Critics React

The scores were generous to Yoka. Online reaction from French fans was mixed to negative, with many arguing the Russian should have gotten the nod. One popular sentiment from a fan post read:

“Giving the win to Tony Yoka does him no good— it’s actually dangerous for the rest of his career. His limitations are huge. Canal+ is doing him no service at all.”

While Yoka technically “gets back on track,” the deeper narrative is one of concern. There was no knockout. No true statement. Just a gritty, controversial win that raised as many questions as it answered.

What's Next?

With the victory, Tony Yoka improves his record and momentarily halts a three-fight skid, but this was far from the kind of performance that would justify a step-up. Arslan Yallyev, despite the loss, emerges with greater international respect. The 28-year-old’s poised and polished performance may have just earned him far more future opportunities than the man who officially “won.”

For now, Yoka marches on — but the shadow of what comes next looms larger than ever.