Anthony Joshua has given his immediate reaction to Joseph Parker stopping Martin Bakole in two rounds in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Bakole valiantly stepped in on two days’ notice to save the card’s co-main event when IBF Heavyweight World Champion Daniel Dubois took unwell.

Despite the lack of proper training camp, many in the sport backed Bakole to spring the upset due to his heavy hands. Parker was unfazed by the addition of a different big puncher in the opposite corner, and he was willing to trade with Bakole to prove it.

That paid off in round two when he landed an overhand right that shook Bakole and saw him stumble and fall off balance. Trainer Billy Nelson was quick to throw in the towel, seeing his man hurt and perhaps aware that the last minute travel had taken its toll.

Speaking on the DAZN broadcast, Joshua – who beat Parker to unify the heavyweight belts back in 2018 – had nothing but praise for his former rival and used his performance as an example as to how fortunes can turn.

“I don’t just look at the fights that Parker’s had recently. The journey of Joseph Parker is one to be studied. How he’s risen to the top of the game, a slight setback – and in boxing you know how detrimental that is – and it takes a real man, a real man of courage and discipline, to come back and compete for the championship once again.

“He rose to the occasion. Credit to him and his team because he’s done an amazing job tonight.”

Parker said post-fight that he will fight anyone, and nobody will dare question that after beating three of the division’s biggest punchers in Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang and Bakole on the bounce.

Eddie Hearn has confirmed that Anthony Joshua’s primary focus is reclaiming the heavyweight championship—regardless of who holds the title.

Joshua, who last fought in September 2024 when he suffered a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois, is determined to become a three-time world heavyweight champion. With Tyson Fury now retired, the long-anticipated all-British clash is no longer an option, shifting Anthony Joshua’s attention to the upcoming Dubois vs. Parker fight.

Read Also: Anthony Joshua eyes new opponent amid Tyson Fury’s retirement

“Right now, because Tyson Fury is retired, the number one choice for AJ is to fight for the world heavyweight title,” Hearn told BetFred.

“That’s 99 per cent of what he wants to do. If that’s Daniel Dubois, no problem. If that’s Joseph Parker, no problem. If AJ decides that’s what he’s doing, then it’s done. Some people say he shouldn’t have fought Oleksandr Usyk. What are you talking about? It’s your job—he was the mandatory challenger. What do you want him to do? Give up his belt and get criticized for ducking Usyk?”

Joshua previously defeated Parker in 2018 and will closely watch the Dubois vs. Parker fight, as the winner could be his next opponent.

Despite recent criticism, Hearn has dismissed any talk of Joshua retiring.

“Not yet, but that time will come,” Hearn said. “Those conversations happen behind the scenes when a fighter is struggling in camp. If you no longer have it, it will become clear.

“Injuries will pile up, you’ll get hurt in sparring, and you won’t be as sharp. When that moment comes, the team will recognise it, and that’s when I’ll have that conversation with him.”

Ben Shalom has revealed that a blockbuster clash between Martin Bakole and Anthony Joshua is ‘done’.

Shalom was in attendance for Adam Azim’s victory over Sergey Lipinets on Saturday night at OVO Arena Wembley.

Azim record his best victory to date by blasting out the Russian inside nine rounds to claim the the vacant IBO super lightweight title.

During the event, Shalom spoke with boxing pundit Spencer Oliver to discuss the fight, but ended up revealing some tasty fight news for another one of his clients.

“The promoter of Martin Bakole that’s what I want to be known as,” he told Oliver.

“The number one heavyweight in the world.”

Shalom proceeded to confirm that Bakole vs Joshua was a ‘done’ deal after the former asserted that he would fight AJ in Africa in the summer.

“It’s done. I’m hearing he’s signed and we’re off to the Congo,” Shalom said.

Joshua and Bakole, 31, have been naturally thrust into a potential showdown ever since Tyson Fury announced in January that he was retiring from the sport.

Bakole, who boasts a record of 21-1 with 16 KOs, is considered by many to be the ‘most avoided’ heavyweight in the division.

However, the Congolese knockout artist has yet to receive his flowers on the world stage in a big-name bout.

This comes despite Bakole locking horns with some of the best in the gym, including Daniel Dubois and current champion Oleksandr Usyk, who he claims he knocked out.

One fight Bakole has always had his eye on in the professional ranks is British star Joshua, 35, whom he sparred while ‘AJ’ trained in Sheffield.

“I think he’ll come [back], yeah. I think so,” he said. “There is a big fight waiting for him in Africa.

“Outside the ring I keep working hard because my fight against him in Africa is a big fight.

“I think it will happen in the Congo…we need to fight in the same stadium and I think it’s going to be in Congo.

Ben Rothwell is hoping to secure a fight with Anthony Joshua after his BKFC knockout went viral.

The 43-year-old secured the BKFC heavyweight title in brutal fashion at Knuckle Mania 5 on Saturday night.

Rothwell extended his bareknuckle boxing record to 4-0 with a 36-second knockout victory against Mick Terrill and earned $150,000.

However, ‘Big Ben’ has now revealed he is a free agent after his contract with the promotion came to an end.

Following four bareknuckle bouts, the former UFC fighter is now targeting a move to boxing with Joshua on his list of dream match-ups.

Asked about facing fellow ex-UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou, Rothwell told The Ariel Helwani Show: “Right now I’m a free agent, I very much love the BKFC, I love David Feldman and I would like to continue, even finish my career here.

“How much time have I got? Maybe a year or so, it really depends. But Francis Ngannou, Anthony Joshua, guys who beat them guys.

“To put the gloves on and prove how good at boxing I am would very much be a bucket list.

“I just don’t feel like I’ve ever gotten to show the boxing world how good of a boxer I am.”

ANTHONY JOSHUA could be in line for a shock trilogy fight following Tyson Fury’s retirement.

The long overdue Battle of Britain seemingly went up in smoke earlier this month when the Fury announced his FIFTH retirement.

Team Joshua are currently exploring options for the Olympian, although they’re confident Fury can be coaxed out of his latest “retirement”.

But long-time rival Dillian Whyte is more than willing to be the Watford warrior’s next dance partner should the Gypsy King opt not to fight again.

The Brixton Bodysnatcher told  “[Joshua] Sounds perfect for me.

“They don’t need to ask me twice.

“They talk about me as an option, but they haven’t said anything to me, so it’s just negotiation tactics from them.”

Whyte and Joshua have twice shared the ring with on another, with the first of their meetings coming the amateurs.

Whyte won the pair’s encounter back in 2009 via decision, although AJ brutally exacted his revenge six years later with seventh-round KO at the O2 Arena.

The pair, 36 and 35 respectively, were due to renew their rivalry in August 2023.

But their third encounter fell through when it emerged Whyte had failed a pre-fight drug test.