Teddy Atlas has predicted what might happen when Joseph Parker takes on Martin Bakole in Saudi Arabia this weekend.
Parker was due to face Daniel Dubois on Saturday but a late viral infection has taken the Brit out of the picture, meaning there will be no world title on the line.
Bakole is a very last minute stand-in who presents plenty of problems for anyone he faces. He is a big, solid boxer with a decent engine who can land heavy punches.
In his last two outings, he has managed to stop the durable Carlos Takam and then blitzed high-rated young American knockout artist Jared Anderson.
He now gets his best chance yet to establish himself at the top table with this fight against Parker, a perennial contender and former world champion who has fought just about everyone in the division.
Parker will have his hands full with Bakole having been deep in camp for months preparing to face the very different challenge of Dubois.
Speaking about the contest to Boxing King Media, Atlas agreed Bakole could be a harder fight.
“It could be [harder]. Dubois is tremendous, he’s found himself, he’s a dangerous guy ’cause he has the confidence of a champion.
“When I say he could be [harder], Parker has been in camp for say two months preparing for one specific style and now on 48 hours notice he has to prepare for a very different style, that might make it more dangerous.
“This guy can do what Dubois did. He can punch like hell.”
The rest of the card offers plenty of similar excitement with the likes of light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev defending his undisputed status in a rematch against Dmitry Bivol.
