Joseph Parker Faces Martin Bakole in Short-Notice Heavyweight Clash

After Daniel Dubois withdraws due to illness, Parker risks his title ambitions against the dangerous Bakole in Saudi Arabia.

• Daniel Dubois withdrew from his IBF heavyweight title defense against Joseph Parker just 48 hours before the fight, citing illness.
• Martin Bakole, a Congo-born, Scotland-based fighter, stepped in as a last-minute replacement to face Parker in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• Parker, a resurgent heavyweight with recent wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang, risks his world-title aspirations against Bakole, known as a high-risk, avoided opponent.
• The fight is part of the Riyadh Season's 'The Last Crescendo' card, featuring seven title bouts, including a light-heavyweight rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.
• Bakole, who has a record of 21-1, accepted the fight on short notice after being contacted while working in Kinshasa, calling it the opportunity of a lifetime.

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