Two former Olympians with point-to-prove careers meet in the French capital this Saturday. Lawrence Okolie heads to the Adidas Arena in Paris to defend his WBC Silver heavyweight title against hometown hero Tony Yoka in a 12-round contest that carries genuine weight for both fighters’ trajectories. It’s a fight where the venue matters, the records are honest, and the Boxing Data analytics point towards a fascinating contrast in styles and recent momentum.
| Date | Saturday, 25 April 2026 |
| Venue | Adidas Arena, Paris |
| Division | Heavyweight (12 rounds) |
| Title | WBC Silver Heavyweight Championship |
| Broadcast | DAZN (UK & US) |
Lawrence Okolie (23-1, 17 KOs) has reinvented himself at heavyweight after a cruiserweight career that peaked with the WBO world title and ended with a majority decision loss to Chris Billam-Smith in May 2023. The 32-year-old Londoner didn’t sulk — he moved up a division, and has been almost unrecognisable in terms of dominance. Four straight wins at heavyweight, none going past two rounds, and the WBC Silver belt now firmly around his waist.
At 6’5” with an 82.7” reach, Okolie is genuinely built for heavyweight. His jab — always his most dangerous weapon — is even more potent with the added mass of the heavier division. The Tetteh KO in December and the dominant Lerena UD (100-90, 99-91, 100-90) tell a story of a fighter who has grown into this weight class with conviction.
| Record | 23-1 (17 KOs) |
| Age | 32 |
| Nationality | English |
| Height | 6’5” / 196 cm |
| Reach | 82.7” / 210 cm |
| Stance | Orthodox |
Tony Yoka (15-3, 12 KOs) is France’s most famous professional boxer — a 2016 Rio Olympic super heavyweight gold medallist who has had the kind of professional career that never quite matched the amateur billing. Three losses suggested a ceiling; a four-fight win streak suggests a rebuilt fighter. The 32-year-old Parisian is now 6’7”, still supremely long-limbed at 81.9” reach, and very much at home in front of the Adidas Arena crowd.
His rebuild has been steady. The KO10 of Patrick Korte in December 2025, UD over Iallyev in May, TKO2 of Griggs in September — this is a fighter finding rhythm again after the December 2023 split decision loss to Ryad Merhy (94-96, 96-94, 94-96). Yoka’s last loss was narrow and genuinely contested. He arrives for this fight believing he belongs at this level.
| Record | 15-3 (12 KOs) |
| Age | 32 |
| Nationality | French |
| Height | 6’7” / 201 cm |
| Reach | 81.9” / 208 cm |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Okolie | Yoka | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 32 | 32 |
| Record | 23-1 (17 KOs) | 15-3 (12 KOs) |
| Height | 6’5” / 196cm | 6’7” / 201cm |
| Reach | 82.7” / 210cm | 81.9” / 208cm |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Debut | 2017 | 2017 |
Lawrence Okolie — Last 5
| Result | Opponent | Method | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| W | Ebenezer Tetteh | KO | 2 |
| W | Kevin Lerena | UD | 10 |
| W | Hussein Muhamed | TKO | 1 |
| W | Lukasz Rozanski | TKO | 1 |
| L | Chris Billam-Smith | MD | 12 |
Tony Yoka — Last 5
| Result | Opponent | Method | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| W | Patrick Korte | KO | 10 |
| W | Arslan Iallyev | UD | 10 |
| W | Lamah Griggs | TKO | 2 |
| W | Amine Boucetta | TKO | 4 |
| L | Ryad Merhy | SD | 10 |
Both men are tall, orthodox heavyweights who like to work behind the jab — but their paths to this fight could not be more different. Okolie has the experience of a former world champion who knows how to control a 12-round fight and impose his will. Yoka has the height edge (2”) and the home crowd, which at the Adidas Arena will be deafening.
The key tactical battle is the jab. At comparable reach, the fighter who establishes theirs first dictates pace. Okolie’s jab has become his defining weapon at heavyweight — the Lerena UD demonstrated how it can neutralise bigger, heavier opponents across an entire fight. Yoka’s work rate and power are real, but his losses have come when opponents forced him to fight off the back foot and think on the move, rather than marching forward.
The Boxing Data picture on Yoka’s four-fight streak is encouraging but needs context: Korte, Iallyev, Griggs, and Boucetta are fighters with a combined record far below Okolie’s quality. Saturday is the first genuinely high-calibre test of Yoka’s rebuild.
Lawrence Okolie wins if:
Tony Yoka wins if:
Odds: Okolie 3/10 (-330) · Yoka 12/5 (+240)
The market respects Okolie’s quality and Yoka’s limitations against tested opposition. Four consecutive heavyweight stoppages from Okolie, combined with his reach and jab control, make him the strong pick. Yoka’s home advantage is real but this fight asks a question he hasn’t answered yet at professional level: can he beat a genuine world-class operator? The data suggests Okolie wins on points with a sustained jab-led display, though a stoppage late is possible if Yoka’s work rate fades.
Prediction: Lawrence Okolie UD
| Country | Broadcaster | Main Event (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | DAZN | 11:00 PM BST |
| United States | DAZN | 5:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM PT |
When is Okolie vs Yoka? Saturday, 25 April 2026 at Adidas Arena, Paris. Main event ringwalk expected around 11:00 PM BST / 5:00 PM ET.
What title is on the line? The WBC Silver Heavyweight Championship, defended by Lawrence Okolie.
What are the betting odds? Okolie is 3/10 (-330) and Yoka is 12/5 (+240). Okolie is the strong favourite.
How to watch Okolie vs Yoka in the UK? Live on DAZN. Coverage begins at approximately 7:00 PM BST.
How to watch Okolie vs Yoka in the US? Live on DAZN. Coverage begins at approximately 1:00 PM ET.
Has Yoka ever beaten a world-level fighter? Yoka’s win streak has come against lower-ranked opposition. Okolie represents the highest-quality opponent of his professional career.
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