Latest boxing and MMA news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page<\/u><\/a><\/p>\nREAD MORE: Dana White refuses to deny he has pulled out of \u00a360million Eddie Hearn fight<\/span><\/span>READ MORE: Ben Whittaker reveals secret to new-found power after latest KO<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nOkolie and Yoka competed at the same Olympics in Rio in 2016, albeit in separate categories. Brit Okolie left Brazil empty-handed but Yoka won gold at super-heavyweight, beating Joe Joyce in a controversial final. Okolie has since gone on to become world champion at cruiserweight before he lost to Chris Billam-Smith three years ago.<\/p>\n
He then knocked out Lukasz Rozanski to win the lightly-regarded WBC bridgerweight belt before moving up to boxing’s marquee division. Okolie had stopped his last three opponents before agreeing to a clash with Frenchman Yoka on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
When the fight was announced, Okolie said: “At cruiserweight, it was difficult to make the weight, at bridgerweight it was difficult for me to make weight and now at heavyweight, I feel at my best and at my strongest, my most explosive and my most comfortable. This fight is eight or nine weeks away so I can get into really good shape. I feel my best self right now.<\/p>\n
“I’ve watched him fight several times. We went to the same Olympics so for me this is an opportunity for me too. I never got to win an Olympic gold medal fight so for me this is my Olympic gold medal fight.<\/p>\n
“When you see any good heavyweight you think they could be an opponent. He’s a good fighter, he’s got a lot of experience, he’s boxed a lot of good guys. As a professional he hasn’t hit the levels he possibly can and I think the momentum is in my favour.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n