Heavyweight Clash: Parker Steps Up Against Bakole Amid Illness Crisis

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Joseph Parker registered a career-high weight of 267 pounds on Friday, while his replacement opponent, Martin Bakole, was still en route to the venue, following the sudden illness of original fighter Daniel Dubois. Dubois, the current IBF heavyweight champion, withdrew from the fight on Thursday due to health issues.

Parker, whose professional record stands at 35-3 with 25 knockouts, was initially set to challenge Dubois for the title. Following Dubois’ withdrawal, Bakole received a last-minute call to contest the WBO interim title against Parker. Bakole, hailing from the Democratic Republic of Congo, was still in transit, having embarked on a journey of over 2,000 miles.

Despite the abrupt change in plans, Parker expressed his readiness for the challenge. “I feel good. Going from one big puncher to the next big puncher. Even though I’m not fighting for a world title, I get to defend my WBO interim belt for the first time,” he said after the weigh-in.

While Parker’s previous heaviest weight was 255 pounds during his 2022 bout against Joe Joyce, he noted the added weight could give him an advantage in facing Bakole. His willingness to take on Bakole reflects his commitment to the fight card, which features an anticipated light heavyweight title rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.

Bakole, who has a record of 21-1 with 16 KOs, confirmed his arrival in Riyadh via social media. He posted footage during his transit, stating, “From Kinshasa to Saudi Arabia to fight. See you all tonight.” He weighed in at 310 pounds, marking the heaviest weight of his career.

Parker extended his good wishes to Dubois, saying, “To Daniel Dubois, I hope he gets better soon. To Martin Bakole, thank you for taking this fight at short notice. It’s been crazy; I wanted to challenge myself, and Bakole is right up there, bring him on!”

Frank Warren, Parker’s promoter, revealed that Parker specifically requested to face Bakole when presented with several potential replacements. Warren stated, “We had a list of fighters we talked about, and this was the one he asked for – which I was a bit surprised about. I want to see this guy do it now.”

The event represents a significant opportunity for both fighters. For Parker, it is a chance to showcase his skills against a formidable opponent. For Bakole, it provides a platform to elevate his career after stepping up at short notice.

The fight is part of a stacked card, headlined by the rematch between Beterbiev and Bivol, where both fighters made weight. Beterbiev weighed in at 175 pounds, while Bivol came in at 174.1 pounds. This heavyweight battle is set to take place on Saturday night in Riyadh.