Martin Bakole unexpectedly replaced Daniel Dubois on short notice for the highly anticipated boxing event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Originally, Dubois was scheduled to face Joseph Parker for the WBO interim heavyweight title on a major card that also featured Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol. However, Dubois withdrew due to illness just days before the fight. Riyadh Season, the event’s organizer, managed to secure Bakole as his replacement with only 48 hours’ notice.
Bakole’s Last-Minute Preparation and Unusual Gear Choice Highlight Challenging Fight Conditions
Bakole’s preparation for the fight was less than ideal. He missed the official weigh-in because he was still en route from the Democratic Republic of Congo, arriving in Riyadh less than 24 hours before the fight. Unprepared for the match, Bakole admitted on social media that he wasn’t in training camp, and unofficially weighed in at 310 pounds—substantially heavier than when he knocked out Jared Anderson in August. Despite the challenging circumstances, Bakole maintained confidence in his ability to compete.
Bakole’s Last-Minute Entry Ends in Defeat as Parker Secures Quick Win in RiyadhIn a curious turn of events, Bakole was seen wearing the same Fly-branded gloves that were initially intended for Dubois. Due to time constraints, Bakole couldn’t get his own gloves approved by the British Boxing Board of Control. As a result, he wore the gloves featuring “DDD” across them, adding an unusual twist to the fight as he stepped into Dubois’ place with only a few days to prepare.
Bakole’s Struggle Against Parker Reveals Challenges of Poor Preparation and Upcoming Future Plans
The fight itself was a struggle for Bakole, who appeared out of shape and lacked the usual sharpness in his movements. In the second round, Parker delivered a powerful right-hand punch to Bakole’s temple, knocking him down. Bakole’s trainer, Billy Nelson, decided to stop the fight shortly after the knockdown, with Bakole unable to recover. The brief match highlighted the challenges of competing without proper preparation and conditioning.
Despite the defeat, Bakole remains focused on his future plans. He is still scheduled to face Efe Ajagba on May 2 in New York, under the Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando Romero undercard. However, due to the nature of the short-notice fight with Parker, Bakole’s planned bout with Ajagba will no longer be an IBF eliminator. Fighters are not allowed to participate in interim bouts after being ordered for an eliminator, meaning Bakole’s agreement to fight Parker led to his removal from the IBF eliminator.
