Martin Bakole Steps In to Face Joseph Parker in Riyadh After Dubois Withdrawal
Martin Bakole has stepped in as a last-minute replacement to face Joseph Parker in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after Daniel Dubois was forced to withdraw from their scheduled IBF world heavyweight title fight due to illness. The bout, set for Saturday night, will now serve as the co-main event for Artur Beterbiev’s rematch with Dmitry Bivol.
Dubois, who was due to defend his title, fell ill with a fever just two days before the fight, missing Thursday’s press conference as he was evaluated by a doctor. Bakole, who was in the Congo, quickly accepted the opportunity and is en route to Riyadh. Parker confirmed he would still fight, with his team agreeing to face Bakole on short notice.
Bakole, often referred to as boxing’s “most-avoided” heavyweight, is coming off a career-best performance, having stopped Jared Anderson in August. The Congolese fighter has won 10 consecutive bouts since his sole defeat to Michael Hunter in 2018. Parker, meanwhile, is on a five-fight winning streak, including victories over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang.
The fight will now be for the WBO interim heavyweight title, with the winner becoming the mandatory challenger for Oleksandr Usyk. Parker’s manager, Spencer Brown, praised his fighter’s willingness to take on the challenge, stating, “Joe never turned anyone down. All comers were welcomed.”
Parker expressed his readiness for the fight, saying, “I’m looking forward to Saturday and putting on a great show. I am ready to go.” Bakole’s promoter, Ben Shalom, highlighted his fighter’s readiness, even on two days’ notice, calling it a “50/50 fight.”
The change in opponent has added an unexpected twist to what is already being hailed as one of the most significant fight cards in boxing history. Fans and pundits alike are eagerly anticipating the clash between two in-form heavyweights, with Bakole looking to cement his place in the title picture and Parker aiming to continue his resurgence.
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