Okolie vs Yoka: UK Time, Ringwalks & Undercard

Updated: May 3, 2026, 10:00 BST
Published: April 14, 2026, 12:00 BST

This fight was cancelled due to Okolie returning an adverse finding before the fight.

Lawrence Okolie’s scheduled fight with Tony Yoka this weekend has been thrown into serious doubt after the British heavyweight returned an adverse finding in a pre-fight anti-doping test.

Queensberry Promotions confirmed the development in an official statement:

“Last night the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association informed Queensberry that Lawrence Okolie had returned an adverse finding following an anti-doping test conducted ahead of the show in Paris on Saturday. A further update regarding the event will be made in due course.”

At this stage, it remains unclear whether the bout will proceed, be postponed, or cancelled entirely. A decision is expected following discussions between promoters, governing bodies, and event organisers.

What it means for the fight

The clash had been positioned as a key step for Okolie in the heavyweight division, with the WBC Silver titleholder aiming to push toward a full world title opportunity in 2026.

Tony Yoka, fighting at home in Paris, was looking to secure a statement win to re-establish himself in the heavyweight picture after rebuilding momentum over the past year.

With fight week already underway, attention now turns to whether a replacement opponent will be sought for Yoka, or if the entire card will be affected.

Lawrence Okolie (23-1, 17 KOs) defends his WBC Silver heavyweight title against Tony Yoka (15-3, 12 KOs) on Saturday, 25 April 2026 at the Adidas Arena, Paris. UK main card starts 6pm BST on DAZN, with ringwalks expected around 10pm BST. ##The fight is included with a standard DAZN subscription. No PPV required.

Check the latest heavyweight rankings to see where Okolie sits heading into fight week.

Okolie vs Yoka is live on DAZN in the UK, with coverage starting at around 6:00 PM BST. Main event ringwalks are expected at approximately 10:00 PM BST. A subscription is needed to watch this fight, you can sign up to DAZN here. 

Both men turned professional in 2017 and both are 33 years old, but their careers have taken wildly different paths to reach this point. Okolie has held world titles at cruiserweight and bridgerweight and is now chasing a world title shot in a third division. 

Yoka, who beat Joe Joyce to win Olympic gold in Rio, saw his pro career stall with three consecutive defeats between 2022 and 2023 before rebuilding under trainer Don Charles in Hertfordshire. Their combined 29 knockouts from 38 wins suggest this one might not go the distance.

Okolie vs Yoka Undercard

All undercard fights confirmed by Queensberry Promotions.

UK fight time & How to Watch Lawrence Okolie vs Tony Yoka

The Queensberry co-promoted show is live from Paris which is one hour ahead of the UK, so the local start inside the Adidas Arena will be 11:00 PM CEST. Making the ringwalk times 10:00 PM BST.

Okolie vs Yoka is free to watch for existing DAZN subscribers in the UK — there is no PPV surcharge on this card. DAZN’s standard subscription starts at £15.99 per month and covers the full event including undercard. New subscribers can access the card via a monthly plan with no long-term contract required. You can get a DAZN subscription here.

DAZN currently offers two tiers: Standard, which includes 185+ fight nights per year with PPVs available as optional add-ons; and Ultimate, which bundles all PPV events at no extra cost. Okolie vs Yoka is included on both tiers.

If you are already subscribed for the Queensberry and Matchroom cards on DAZN, this show is included at no extra cost.

Lawrence Okolie vs Tony Yoka Odds: Who Is Favourite to Win?

The latest Okolie vs Yoka odds have Lawrence Okolie as the clear favourite heading into fight week.

Okolie is the clear favourite, priced at approximately 1/3 with most bookmakers (75% implied probability). Yoka is available at around 9/4 (30.8% implied probability).

Gamble responsibly – 18+ BeGambleAware.org

Tale of the Tape and Recent Form

Lawrence Okolie:

Tony Yoka:

The Split Decision’s Prediction

Split Decision prediction: Okolie by unanimous decision, with a possible late stoppage if Yoka’s resistance fades after round eight.

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