Boxing
Could Rio 2016 reunion offer salvation for Yoka and Joyce?
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Tony Yoka's hopes of a heavyweight scalp have been left in tatters this week after his bout with Lawrence Okolie collapsed.
The Frenchman, a gold medalist at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at super-heavyweight, was primed for a Paris homecoming.
Instead, despite the efforts of Queensberry Promotions, he will be sidelined this Saturday after his rival's adverse VADA result.
For Yoka, a shot against the WBC's number-one ranked contender presented a potential fairytale path to reignite his pro career.
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Now, as he looks to secure a future bout again, could he turn back to the past and engineer a reunion with rival Joe Joyce?
DAZN News examines why a bout between the former foes could prove to be a fascinating alternative for each man to seize.
What is the rivalry between Yoka and Joyce?
Ten years ago, both Yoka and Joyce headed to Brazil in search of gold-medal glory - and for many, the wrong man took it home.
In a controversial final at super-heavyweight, the Frenchman appeared to be outlanded and outgunned by the Briton with ease.
But a split-decision call in Yoka's favour saw him take the top step of the podium instead, in one of several controversial results.
A 2021 investigation called into question multiple decisions made at the games by the International Boxing Association (AIBA).
Yoka's victory was one of them, leading to Joyce issuing calls for his rival to be stripped and the gold medal awarded to him instead.
How have their professional careers fared?
Since that day a decade ago, both men have left their amateur days behind - and to some, have fallen short of their potential too.
Yoka strung up almost a dozen straight wins from his debut in 2017, but came unstuck in 2022 when he lost to Martin Bakole.
Two more defeats followed, against Carlos Takam and Ryad Merhy in 2023. Since then, the Frenchman has faced few big names.
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By contrast, Joyce was feted as a potential world champion, with a superb win over Daniel Dubois in 2020 a major highlight.
He took the WBO interim belt in another marquee win over Joseph Parker, but then began to unravel with two 2023 reverses.
A Zhilei Zhang duology saw Joyce knocked out twice. More recently, he suffered further defeats to Derek Chisora and Filip Hrgović.
Could a Rio 2016 reunion reignite both men?
With no disrespect to either Yoka or Joyce, their chances of securing a heavyweight world title shot feel particularly distant right now.
Neither man currently holds a ranked position with any of the four major sanctioning bodies, and find themselves on the outside.
But there is undoubtedly goodwill for both men among promoters, particularly with Queensberry and their supremo Frank Warren.
Queensberry/Leigh Dawney
Forty years old, Joyce is clearly reaching the end of his career. Marquee opponents will be hard to secure for a theoretical finale.
Yoka makes poetic sense in more ways than one, and ultimately would offer him the chance to make amends for a decade ago.
As for the Frenchman himself? It gives him the chance to put the Briton in his place once and for all, and prove Rio was no fluke.Â
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