Joseph Parker stuns Bakole in Saudi Arabia

In the co-main event of the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol rematch at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, former heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) pulled off one of the upsets of the night when stopped last-minute replacement Martin Bakole (21-2, 16 KOs in the second round of a scheduled 12-round heavyweight bout for the interim WBO title.

Bakole, who had won ten straight fights, stepped into the fight on 48 hours’ notice when IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois was forced to withdraw due to illness days before the scheduled bout. 

Despite the 31-year-old Bakole being one of the more avoided heavyweights in the division or a “Boogeyman,”  Parker landed a big overhand right to the top of Bakole’s head, which forced him to stumble and ultimately hit the canvas. Bakole got to his feet, but the referee called off the action. 

Parker, 33, had to prepare for one tough fight against Dubois and another tough fight against Bakole, but despite the last-minute change, Parker was ready to fight.

“I’m fit, I’m strong, I’m healthy,” he said. “I’m sharp thanks to these two men(trainers) and my hard work as well. Andy(Lee) was breaking it down for me, and I came in and I had to be patient. I just went out there and listened, stayed calm, composed, and got the victory. Andy gave me instructions to be patient. When he walks in and attacks, that’s when you have to take your shot.”

The New Zealand native has now won six straight fights, and Parker says he wants to again for a world title.

“I want to say, who’s next?” he said. “How can I fight for the world title? I want to fight for a world title, and I’d like to be champion of the world again, too. I will fight anyone and everyone. Saudi Arabia has been amazing. Four fights. Four wins.”

One lesson we learned from this fight is that it is not easy to beat a world-class fighter on short notice, and Bakole tried to do that, but he failed.