Heavyweight contender Tony Yoka wants to face a familiar foe for his next fight in France.

"In Paris, I would want a reputable opponent. For example, Joe Joyce," Yoka told L'Equipe. "I’d like to face Joe Joyce in the spring to close the loop. He talks about it himself. He still contests his defeat against me in the 2016 Olympics final.”

Yoka met Joyce during the championship round of the Summer Games in Rio nearly a decade ago, and the Frenchman beat the Brit to score the super heavyweight division gold medal. But their professional careers have taken different paths.

Yoka (15-3, 12 KOs) kicked off his pro career with 11 consecutive wins but started to hit bumps in the road in 2022, as three straight competitive and narrow decision defeats emerged against Martin Bakole, Carlos Takam, and Ryad Merhy. The 33-year-old has rallied, however, scoring four wins in a row, with the most recent one being a first-round knockout against Patrick Korte in Nigeria last month.

During his post-fight interview in the ring, Yoka called for a chapter-closing clash against Joyce.

Joyce (16-4, 15 KOs) has enjoyed bigger bouts with more lucrative paydays under the bright lights, but his best days are clearly behind him at the age of 40. The "Juggernaut" Joyce jolted both Joseph Parker and Daniel Dubois by knockout during his heyday. However, losses in four out of last five fights over the last three years have followed. Zhilei Zhang beat Joyce twice by stoppage before the Londoner suffered decision defeats against Derek Chisora, and most recently in April, against Filip Hrgovic.

Following the Hrgovic fight, Joyce's promoter Frank Warren urged the "brave servant" Joyce to retire.

Yoka is signed with Warren’s Queensberry Promotions as well.

“I know they are going to give me the fights that are going to lead me to a world title chance,” said Yoka.