Martin Bakole‘s dream scenario against Joseph Parker didn’t pay off.
Bakole stepped in on 48 hours notice to replace IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois and face Parker, after Dubois was forced to withdraw from the contest through illness.
Bakole only arrived into Riyadh in the early hours of Saturday morning, having to weigh in on fight day after missing the official weigh-in, whilst also having to weigh Dubois’ gloves due to missing the gloves selection.
The adversity he faced meant it would have been a fairytale ending had he been able to defeat Parker, but it wasn’t to be, as the New Zealander scored an emphatic second round knockout win.
One man who knows what it is like to bounce back after a stoppage loss is former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, who in 2019 recovered from losing his titles to Andy Ruiz by winning the rematch six months later.
Joshua was ringside to witness Bakole’s loss to Parker, and revealed to The Stomping Ground what he thinks the future holds for the Congo fighter – believing ‘it’s not the end’ for Bakole.
“Bakole believes in himself. He has every right to because he’s a serious fighter. That’s not the end. This is the heavyweight divison.
“If he’s got it in him to fight again I’m sure he will. I think Bakole is a great addition to the heavyweight division so let’s see him roll the dice again.”
Joshua also heaped praise on Parker for his performance.
“That’s the heavyweight division at the end of the day. There’s an element of skill but what makes it so interesting is it takes one punch to change the course of a fight.
“Regardless of if Bakole had 5 days or 5 weeks. That punch from a heavyweight knocks down, or knocks out anyone. We’re just too powerful.
“If it connects right it dont matter if you had 5 months in training camp. A shot that lands like that knocks out anyone, so well done to Joe.”
Joshua has been linked to fights with both Bakole and Parker in recent months, but ‘AJ’ has named the only fight he sees possible for his return.
