Joseph Parker flattens Martin Bakole with dynamite right hand after short-notice step-in and 3,800-mile flight
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. Parker left Bakole flat on his back with a big shotGETTY 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 journey was so long it required 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 but his fans were left dreaming of a sensational upset. Those dreams were subsequently shattered by a dynamite right hand that caught Bakole on the top of the head in the second round and sent him tumbling to the canvas. To his credit, Bakole made his way back to his feet, although he was caught on unsteady legs, prompting his trainer Nelson to make the compassionate call to throw in the towel. In doing so, Parker successfully retained his WBO ‘interim’ title before showing his class in the immediate aftermath. Paying tribute to Bakole for saving the card, Parker said post-fight: “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. Bakole went in and rolled the diceGETTY GettyBut he was ultimately dispatched by Parker[/caption] “I just went out there listened to Andy [Lee] 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. “I want to say, who is next? How do I fight for the world title next? “If Usyk wants a dance partner then I will get Frank [Warren] in here to lock in a fight. “I want to champion of the world again soon.” Parker remains the WBO ‘interim’ heavyweight championMatchroom Parker is the WBO mandatory for WBC, WBA and WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk. Prior to Parker vs Dubois falling apart, the Ukrainian stated his intentions to box the winner. However, now the fight has collapsed, Usyk is favouring a rematch with IBF champion Dubois for the undisputed crown next. Follow talkBOXING on social media talkBOXING is now on Twitter and Facebook. Follow us on social media for big breaking boxing news, exclusive interviews and the best bits from our talkBOXING YouTube show. Like our Facebook page HERE Follow us on Twitter HERE Sign up for our WhatsApp channel HERE
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 journey was so long it required 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 but his fans were left dreaming of a sensational upset.
Those dreams were subsequently shattered by a dynamite right hand that caught Bakole on the top of the head in the second round and sent him tumbling to the canvas.
To his credit, Bakole made his way back to his feet, although he was caught on unsteady legs, prompting his trainer Nelson to make the compassionate call to throw in the towel.
In doing so, Parker successfully retained his WBO ‘interim’ title before showing his class in the immediate aftermath.
Paying tribute to Bakole for saving the card, Parker said post-fight: “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.
“I just went out there listened to Andy [Lee] 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.
“I want to say, who is next? How do I fight for the world title next?
“If Usyk wants a dance partner then I will get Frank [Warren] in here to lock in a fight.
“I want to champion of the world again soon.”
Parker is the WBO mandatory for WBC, WBA and WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Prior to Parker vs Dubois falling apart, the Ukrainian stated his intentions to box the winner.
However, now the fight has collapsed, Usyk is favouring a rematch with IBF champion Dubois for the undisputed crown next.
