Joseph Parker faces a last-minute change as Martin Bakole steps in to replace Daniel Dubois in this weekend’s Riyadh Season’s co-main event.
Parker was all set for a shot at the IBF World Heavyweight Title before champion Dubois was pulled from the contest due to a viral infection. The division’s dangerman Martin Bakole answered the call on two-days notice and is now en-route to Riyadh promising a heavyweight banger.
Both men deserve credit – Parker for taking a risky fight after preparing for months to face Dubois and Bakole for stepping in without a full training camp to roll the dice.
Though the African giant didn’t land in time for the weigh-in, he’s expected to come in big. So was Parker, who has made no secret of bulking up but looking to keep his athleticism.
That was confirmed when he took to the scales, looking in fantastic shape and weighing in at 267 pounds.
The New Zealander’s previous career heaviest was 255 pounds against Joe Joyce in 2022, a fight he lost by stoppage in the eleventh round after a back and forth battle. Parker has since said he took ill on fight week but didn’t pull out – something he wishes he did and will not blame Dubois for doing this time around.
He was 247 pounds against Zhilei Zhang – who faces Agit Kabayel on the same card – last time out in March of 2024, a twelve-round points win.
The general belief is that Bakole may struggle to go the distance given the circumstances, so Parker could favour movement and speed in the first half of the fight, weathering any storm coming his way before taking advantage of Bakole’s late in the day addition.
The pair are expected to ringwalk in Riyadh at around 9:15PM, UK time.
