JOSEPH PARKER has spoken to Boxing News about facing Martin Bakole instead of Daniel Dubois on Saturday night.
In a rollercoaster day on a huge fight week for the sport it was revealed by The Ring earlier that Dubois, the current IBF heavyweight champion, may have to pull out of his second title defence on Saturday night against former WBO title holder Parker, 35-3 (23 KOs).
Reports began circulating over who may get the call to replace Dubois with names such as Lawrence Okolie and David Adeleye floated. However, the nod went to the dangerman of the division Martin Bakole, 21-1 (16 KOs). The Scottish-based Congolese heavyweight finally made a name for himself last August with a brutal punching display to knock out American hope Jared Anderson in five rounds.
Bakole had been set to face Efe Ajagba later in the year but is now set to touch down in Riyadh for a chance to claim his biggest win to date.
BN caught up with Parker earlier to get his reaction to the news.
“He’s a beast of a fighter and I’m looking forward to challenging myself against Martin Bakole who’s been avoided. Let’s get it on.”
The relaxed and philosophical New Zealander also commented on Dubois’ pull out denying him a shot at becoming a two-time world champion.
“Things happen in life, not just boxing but in life,” he said. You gotta adapt, you gotta adjust and you gotta go forward. I want to go forward and hopefully he recovers and gets better soon.”
