Martin Bakole misses weigh-in for Joseph Parker fight as arrival delayed by 4,000 mile flight
Martin Bakole was unable to attend the ceremonial weigh for his late-notice fight with Joseph Parker as he is still flying to Saudi Arabia. Parker tipped the scales at a career-heaviest 267lbs (19st), 12 lbs heavier than his previous high against Joe Joyce in 2022, before facing off with promoter Frank Warren. Parker tipped the scales at the weigh-in for his fight with BakoleGETTY However, Bakole is yet to weigh in as his 3,800-mile flight from Congo is yet to touch down in Saudi Arabia. The African assassin will first fly from Congo to Ethiopia, then to Dubai, before finally landing in Saudi Arabia, where he’ll square off against Parker in the co-main event of a stacked card headlined by Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol‘s rematch. Bakole is expected to touch down at 2am local time and will then take to the scales behind closed doors. Parker was supposed to be challenging Daniel Dubois for his IBF heavyweight title, however, the champion was withdrawn from the bill on Thursday after coming down with a viral infection that left him unable to compete. With the IBF title off the table, Parker will now defend his WBO ‘interim’ belt against Bakole in a dramatic turn of events. “It’s been amazing,” said Parker of his crazy 24 hours. “To Daniel Dubois, I hope he gets better soon. “To Martin Bakole, thank you for taking this fight on short notice and my team for making this happen. “Thank you, Andy Lee, Spencer Brown and His Excellency (Turki Alalshikh). “And it is great to have the deputy prime minister of New Zealand here showing his support. “It’s been crazy but I’d like to thank Martin Bakole and I’m looking forward to being in a ring with him tomorrow. Parker had to face off with promoter Frank WarrenGETTY “Tomorrow we got to work… I wanted this fight because I want to challenge myself. “Martin Bakole is right up there, bring him on… “There are a few changes we worked on last night, we have spoken about it today and it will all come together tomorrow.” Both men enter this weekend’s clash in red-hot form. Parker is riding a five-fight winning streak including back-to-back big victories over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang. Meanwhile, Bakole is unbeaten in 10 fights and steps between the ropes fresh off a career-best triumph against Jared Anderson. Bakole will land at 2am local timeGETTY Bakole’s trainer Billy Nelson recently joined talkSPORT and insisted that his man will overcome the chips stacked against him to knock out Parker. “In my opinion, it’s no disrespect to Joseph because he’s a good friend but I believe Martin would beat Parker nine and a half times out of ten,” said Nelson. “I think Martin will knock out Parker…there’s already been talks about a rematch which is astounding. “I’m astounded at it but you know it’s not the worst thing in the world because it’s another top fight for Martin Bakole isn’t it? “Nothing’s been agreed on that yet though.” Read more on Beterbiev v Bivol 2 Live commentary from Riyadh for ‘greatest boxing card ever’ including Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 and Parker vs Bakole ‘Something special’ – Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 2 leaves boxing world torn as biggest stars make fight predictions Beterbiev leaves fans stunned with sledgehammer exercise to keep stunning KO ratio Dmitry Bivol explains exactly what taking punch from knockout artist Artur Beterbiev feels like Joseph Parker to fight ‘world’s most avoided heavyweight’ after Daniel Dubois clash collapses Part-time electrician to fight for world title against Shakur Stevenson at late notice in Rocky movie storyline EXCLUSIVE: Oleksandr Usyk backs fast-rising boxer to succeed him as heavyweight king WATCH: We’ll be hosting a live watch-along for all the action over on the talkSPORT Boxing YouTube channel BETTING: Latest betting odds and offers for boxing’s biggest fights on talkSPORT BET OFFERS: Check out all the latest free bet offers available in the UK
Martin Bakole was unable to attend the ceremonial weigh for his late-notice fight with Joseph Parker as he is still flying to Saudi Arabia.
Parker tipped the scales at a career-heaviest 267lbs (19st), 12 lbs heavier than his previous high against Joe Joyce in 2022, before facing off with promoter Frank Warren.
However, Bakole is yet to weigh in as his 3,800-mile flight from Congo is yet to touch down in Saudi Arabia.
The African assassin will first fly from Congo to Ethiopia, then to Dubai, before finally landing in Saudi Arabia, where he’ll square off against Parker in the co-main event of a stacked card headlined by Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol‘s rematch.
Bakole is expected to touch down at 2am local time and will then take to the scales behind closed doors.
Parker was supposed to be challenging Daniel Dubois for his IBF heavyweight title, however, the champion was withdrawn from the bill on Thursday after coming down with a viral infection that left him unable to compete.
With the IBF title off the table, Parker will now defend his WBO ‘interim’ belt against Bakole in a dramatic turn of events.
“It’s been amazing,” said Parker of his crazy 24 hours. “To Daniel Dubois, I hope he gets better soon.
“To Martin Bakole, thank you for taking this fight on short notice and my team for making this happen.
“Thank you, Andy Lee, Spencer Brown and His Excellency (Turki Alalshikh).
“And it is great to have the deputy prime minister of New Zealand here showing his support.
“It’s been crazy but I’d like to thank Martin Bakole and I’m looking forward to being in a ring with him tomorrow.
“Tomorrow we got to work… I wanted this fight because I want to challenge myself.
“Martin Bakole is right up there, bring him on…
“There are a few changes we worked on last night, we have spoken about it today and it will all come together tomorrow.”
Both men enter this weekend’s clash in red-hot form.
Parker is riding a five-fight winning streak including back-to-back big victories over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang.
Meanwhile, Bakole is unbeaten in 10 fights and steps between the ropes fresh off a career-best triumph against Jared Anderson.
Bakole’s trainer Billy Nelson recently joined talkSPORT and insisted that his man will overcome the chips stacked against him to knock out Parker.
“In my opinion, it’s no disrespect to Joseph because he’s a good friend but I believe Martin would beat Parker nine and a half times out of ten,” said Nelson.
“I think Martin will knock out Parker…there’s already been talks about a rematch which is astounding.
“I’m astounded at it but you know it’s not the worst thing in the world because it’s another top fight for Martin Bakole isn’t it?
“Nothing’s been agreed on that yet though.”
Read more on Beterbiev v Bivol 2
Live commentary from Riyadh for ‘greatest boxing card ever’ including Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 and Parker vs Bakole
‘Something special’ – Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 2 leaves boxing world torn as biggest stars make fight predictions
Beterbiev leaves fans stunned with sledgehammer exercise to keep stunning KO ratio
Dmitry Bivol explains exactly what taking punch from knockout artist Artur Beterbiev feels like
Joseph Parker to fight ‘world’s most avoided heavyweight’ after Daniel Dubois clash collapses
Part-time electrician to fight for world title against Shakur Stevenson at late notice in Rocky movie storyline
EXCLUSIVE: Oleksandr Usyk backs fast-rising boxer to succeed him as heavyweight king
WATCH: We’ll be hosting a live watch-along for all the action over on the talkSPORT Boxing YouTube channel
BETTING: Latest betting odds and offers for boxing’s biggest fights on talkSPORT BET
OFFERS: Check out all the latest free bet offers available in the UK
