Joseph Parker knocked out last-minute stand-in Martin Bakole in the second round on Saturday night after a heroic effort.
All the odds were stacked against the brave Congolese heavyweight, who stepped in on two days' notice to fight Parker when Daniel Dubois pulled out of their IBF heavyweight title fight with a viral infection. Organisers scrambled for a replacement with Lawrence Okolie, David Adeleye, and Mourad Aliev all contacted to take Dubois' place. But Bakole got the call after his trainer and manager Billy Nelson campaigned tirelessly for the fight on social media.
The 33-year-old was in Congo when he got the green light from boxing mogul Turki Alalshikh and jumped on a 3,800-mile flight on the same day to Saudi Arabia. Bakole's trip was complex, requiring three connecting flights. He first flew from Congo to Ethiopia, then to Dubai, before finally landing in the Middle East in the early hours of Saturday morning. It was always going to be a big ask for Bakole to pull it off, though his fans held onto dreams of a sensational upset.
Those dreams were dashed early when Parker unleashed a powerful right hand, catching Bakole on the top of the head in the second round, sending him tumbling to the canvas. Bakole made his way back to his feet but wobbled unsteadily, prompting his trainer Nelson to call for the fight to be stopped out of concern for his fighter.
Parker successfully retained his WBO 'interim' title and showed great maturity and respect for Bakole after the match. He said, "Martin Bakole thank you very much for accepting the challenge and flying all the way here on short notice to give me a good fight." He continued by reflecting on his composure during the fight, attributing his calmness to the guidance from his trainer, Andy Lee.
"I just went out there listened to Andy and stayed calm, structured, and composed to get the victory. I'm fit, I'm strong, I'm healthy, I'm sharp thanks to these two men and my hard work. Andy was breaking it down for me and I had to be patient," Parker explained.
After the victory, Parker made it clear he was ready for bigger challenges, stating, "I want to know who is next? How do I fight for the world title next?" He called out Oleksandr Usyk, the unified champion, who was watching ringside. Parker emphasized his determination to become champion of the world again.
Parker previously held the WBO title before losing it to Anthony Joshua, and after suffering some setbacks, including a knockout loss to Joe Joyce, he has now achieved six consecutive victories. Parker’s performance, along with the presence of Usyk, sets the stage for potentially exciting matchups.
Saturday’s bout served not only as Parker's pathway back to title contention but also added another layer to the growing narrative within heavyweight boxing. Parker's decisive win over Bakole sends him back to the top of discussions for world title opportunities.
With Usyk remaining the target, it seems Joseph Parker is poised to reclaim his place among boxing's elite if the opportunity arises. After all, he stated emphatically, "I want to champion of the world again soon." Saturday's fight may well have positioned him to achieve just that's what he has been working toward.