Daniel Dubois has pulled out of his IBF world heavyweight title defence against New Zealand’s Joseph Parker 48 hours before the bout because of illness. The British fighter, who dismantled Anthony Joshua at Wembley four months ago, has been replaced at extremely short notice by Martin Bakole, ranked No 7 in the world, a Congo-born Scotland-based 6ft 6in heavyweight.
It is the opportunity of a lifetime for Bakole, who has a professional record of 21 wins and one defeat with 16 KOs, and the two will now fight for Parker’s WBO interim title as the co-main event on Riyadh Season’s “The Last Crescendo” card. The night is stacked with seven separate title bouts, including an Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol rematch for the undisputed light heavyweight title in the night’s final contest.
When is Parker vs Bakole?
The fight will take place today – Saturday, February 22. The schedule for the ring walks is yet to be confirmed, but they are expected to start at around 10pm UK time. Beterbiev and Bivol are expected to begin ring walks for their bout around an hour later at 11pm.
Where is Parker vs Bakole taking place?
The fight will be the latest major boxing event to be held at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following Usyk vs Fury II last December. The card is part of Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season series, which also sponsored Dubois’ September bout against Joshua.
Speaking to Telegraph Sport last year, Beterbiev’s promoter Bob Arum described Saudi Arabia as the new Las Vegas for heavyweight boxing. Critics say that the kingdom’s obsession with funding and promoting elite sport is sportswashing. They have recently won the right to host the 2034 Football World Cup.
Where to watch Parker vs Bakole in the UK
Viewers in the UK can watch the event through DAZN pay-per-view, at a cost of £19.99 for the full evening of boxing.
Is Parker vs Bakole on the radio?
Talksport is providing radio coverage of Dubois-Parker, as it has done with other bouts promoted as part of Riyadh Season.
What are the other fights on the Parker vs Bakole bill?
Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol
(for the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO and The Ring light-heavyweight titles)
In the co-main event and final fight of the evening, Beterbiev and Bivol will clash in their anticipated rematch. Beterbiev won their fight in October, taking his opponent’s World Boxing Association title to unify the belts and become the undisputed world champion of the light-heavyweight division.
Both fighters went into that contest with perfect records, but it was Beterbiev who prevailed through a close majority decision from the judges, marking the first time that he has been taken the distance in his 21-fight career.
Bivol will be out for revenge having come so close, with their headline clash looking almost too tight to call this time around. Beterbiev holds a slight advantage with bookmakers.
Shakur Stevenson vs Josh Padley
(for the WBC lightweight title)
Shakur Stevenson will defend his World Boxing Council lightweight title against 29-year old Josh Padley, an electrician by trade from Doncaster in South Yorkshire who was a late call-up to replace 22-year-old Floyd Schofield. Stevenson is one of the biggest faces in United States boxing, but his opponent is almost unknown on the global stage, having made himself available for the fight on Wednesday after finishing a shift at work in England after Stevenson’s expected opponent, Floyd Schofield pulled out with illness after he, too, stepped in for William Zepeda, who suffered an arm injury.
Stevenson’s superior experience and profile has him as a strong favourite, but Padley is unbeaten in his 15 bouts even if he ahs fought outside the UK only once. A shock win could propel the Yorkshire ‘sparky’ into the stratosphere.
Carlos Adames vs Hamzah Sheeraz
(for the WBC middleweight title)
Briton Hamzah Sheeraz will take on Dominican Carlos Adames for his WBC middleweight title, with the challenger the odds-on favourite. Sheeraz, 25, boasts 17 knockouts in his 21 wins, having stopped four of his past five fights within two rounds, and is without a loss in his career so far.
Adames will be undeterred by Sheeraz’s ruthlessness, having lost only one of his 25 fights, and going unblemished for the past five years. The 30-year-old is in his prime and is well positioned to put up a fight against the up-and-coming challenger, but Sheeraz’s famously quick hands could prove too much for the title-holder.
Vergil Ortiz Jnr vs Israil Madrimov
(for the WBC interim super welterweight title)
American Vergil Ortiz Jnr will defend his WBC interim super welterweight title for the first time after defeating Serhii Bohachuk in Las Vegas last August. That contest was the first time Ortiz had been taken the distance, securing knockouts in all 21 of his other fights, making this bout one to watch for a potential show-stopper.
He will be challenged by Uzbek Israil Madrimov in his first fight since he lost his perfect record against US star Terence Crawford in August. Madrimov will face a big test of character in trying to regain his momentum after that setback with a win in Riyadh.
Zhilei Zhang vs Agit Kabayel
(for the WBC interim heavyweight title)
China’s Zhilei Zhang is looking to capitalise on his victory over Wilder last year as he takes on Agit Kabayel for the vacant WBC interim heavyweight title. The 41-year-old suffered a defeat against headliner Parker last year, but his surprise fifth round TKO against Wilder in June put him back in contention to challenge at the top of the heavyweight division.
Kabayel is undefeated in his 25 career fights, and ended two perfect records in his past two appearances. However, the German is yet to fight anyone of Zhang’s calibre, making this bout a real test of his world-class credentials.
Joshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith
(for the WBO interim light heavyweight title)
Londoner Joshua Buatsi will defend his World Boxing Organisation interim light-heavyweight title against Callum Smith in the card’s only all British bout. Buatsi won the title last September against Willy Hutchinson on the undercard of Dubois’ victory over Joshua at Wembley, extending his perfect record to 19-0 in the process.
His challenger comes in the form of Liverpudlian Callum Smith, who has lost two of his past five bouts despite holding a perfect 27-0 record up to that point. Smith is Buatsi’s biggest challenge yet, and whoever wins will find themselves in prime position to challenge the winner of the co-main event in Beterbiev or Bivol.
What are Parker and Bakole’s career records?
Joseph Parker v Martin Bakole
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Nationality: New Zealand vs Congo
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Age: 33 v 33
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Height: 6ft 4in v 6ft 6in
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Reach: 76in v 77in
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Total fights: 38 v 22
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Record: 35-3 (23 KOs) v 21-1 (16 KOs)
What are the odds?
Parker to win: 4/6
Bakole to win: 7/5
Draw: 20/1
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