Lennox Lewis has weighed in on the debate around Martin Bakole‘s fight with Joseph Parker this past weekend.
New Zealander Parker was scheduled to take on IBF world champion Daniel Dubois in Saudi Arabia as he attempted to become a two-time world champion.
However, after the first public workout and with just 48 hours to go until the fight started, Dubois came down with a virus and was pulled from the fight.
Despite the incredibly short notice, Bakole took the opportunity and flew out to Saudi Arabia to roll the dice.
Although he landed a few shots on Parker and soon bloodied his nose, by the second round the Congolese boxer was caught with a heavy right hand from the experienced Parker. It landed on the top of his head and sent him wobbling to the canvas. He beat the count but remained on unsteady legs so his corner instructed the referee to stop the fight.
Speaking to BoxNation, former undisputed champion Lewis shared his view.
“Great punch. Bakole had his hands down and he just took a last-minute fight. I wouldn’t have took a last-minute fight like that. I would have been prepared for that.”
Parker will now hope he can get a quickly rescheduled IBF world title shot at Dubois as soon as the Brit is well again, though Dubois and his team could instead push for an undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk after being beaten by the Ukrainian great back in August 2023 by stoppage.
As for Bakole, he has confirmed he will have a week’s rest before returning to training for a May bout against Ede Ajagba, though it was no longer be an IBF final eliminator.
