Joseph Parker and Martin Bakole are set to face off this weekend in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia following a whirlwind week in the sport of boxing.
Parker was initially set to challenge for the IBF World Heavyweight Title against champion Daniel Dubois, however the Brit fell ill during fight week and was pulled from the contest.
As Dubois heads home to the UK, big-punching Bakole flies in from the Congo. The heavyweight dangerman is said to have accepted the fight immediately as it was proposed to him even despite the lack of a focused training camp on Parker.
Both men deserve huge credit for how they have dealt with the turn of events, and each will be confident for different reasons.
Speaking to DAZN, former world champion turned pundit Tony Bellew backed Parker but believes Bakole will be ‘extremely dangerous early.’
“Listen, credit to both men for stepping up and keeping this amazing because this is a brilliant fight that has been put together at the last minute. Parker should have too much in this due to his experience and also the fact he’s got a full camp behind him that I believe has gone very well.
“Bakole will be extremely dangerous in the first half of the fight, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him treat this like a four round fight and just go out and empty the tank for an early stoppage. That might be his best route to victory because fighting Parker on such short notice for 12 rounds is going to be very hard.
“This has everything to be a great fight though, and once again, I respect both men so much for stepping up.”
