Martin Bakole has delivered on a promise to fight any man at any time by accepting a last minute call to step in with Joseph Parker.
Parker was all set to challenge for Daniel Dubois’ IBF World Heavyweight Title but the champion took ill just days out and was pulled from the card. Enter Bakole, who flew in to Riyadh from the Congo, arriving in the early hours of fight day.
Bakole has become a big name in the division due to destructive performances and tales from sparring in which he says he demolished some of the best heavyweights.
He has one blemish on his record in the form of an tenth round stoppage loss to Michael Hunter. The former cruiserweight from the US overwhelmed big Bakole, who had suffered an injured shoulder, with his movement and output
Trainer Billy Nelson has since said his charge should not have been fighting that night – something many people in the sport may feel about this late notice opportunity against one of the most in-form men in the division in Parker.
However, Hunter – who has been on a run of nine victories, two draws, since but has been punctuated by inactivity – told Seconds Out he backs his former foe to do the business.
“Joseph Parker’s my boy, shout out to Joseph Parker. No hate. I always get crucified for telling the truth. Hopefully he doesn’t take this in a bad way, but I just don’t see him beating Martin Bakole. He does have an advantage because he was the one training for the fight. Martin was training but he wasn’t at peak performance.
“It’s gonna be a different type of style from fighting Daniel Dubois. I think it’s gonna be very similar to the way that Martin Bakole beat Jared Anderson. Parker is a little wiser, more educated and experienced than Anderson, but I think it’s going to be very similar.”
Hunter says Bakole ‘absolutely’ stops Parker even despite some feeling he will be in no shape for a high-level fight.
“When you’re big like that, he’s already in shape … You’re not gonna be able to tell if he’s out of shape or in shape … It might be a little bit longer [than the Anderson fight] so you will definitely see a little bit of a break. But overall I don’t see Joseph Parker getting through that. Absolutely [I believe Bakole stops Parker] mid rounds towards the later rounds.”
