After IBF Heavyweight World Champion Daniel Dubois fell ill, it took just hours for Martin Bakole to step up to the plate as a late replacement for Joseph Parker.
Parker was all set to challenge for Dubois’ belt before the 28-year-old Brit reportedly came down with a viral infection and was deemed ineligibly to compete by the doctors.
Enter Bakole, who was visiting his home country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, when he got the call to step in. Reports say he and his team did not hesitate, even despite the lack of a training camp and gameplan for one of the most in-form heavyweights in the division.
@boxxerofficial That feeling when you step in on 2 days notice to fight Joseph Parker on the biggest fight card in history 🔥 #boxing #thelastcrescendo #beterbievbivol2 #parkerbakole #martinbakole #bakole #congo
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The 31-year-old dubbed ‘the most avoided heavyweight on the planet’ was set to fight an IBF final eliminator against Efe Ajagba in May to earn a shot a the winner of Dubois-Parker and was set to enter camp in Scotland soon.
Bakole has weighed as his as 282 pounds on the scales and fans expect a heavy man come fight night. In fact, fans looked at his most recent social media post from February 14 and worried that he will be in nowhere near fighting shape.
One fan on Instagram commented, “this is a setup for failure. I hope you didn’t take the Parker fight.” Another said on X, “he could be 300 pounds” and someone then addressed the bettings odds: “Now I understand why he’s the underdog.” With a prediction of only having a good ‘three rounds’ in him for the bout from one observer, a Bakole win would indeed make an incredible statement.
Promoter Ben Shalom told Seconds Out he believes his charge is the only heavyweight on the scene who would take such a risk.
“From their perspective they’re probably thinking, if we’re ever going to have our best chance against Martin Bakole it’s on two days’ notice, let’s get him out the way … Martin on two days’ notice flying in from the Congo deserves a huge amount of credit.
“It’s not ideal preparation for any fighter. When Martin’s got no hesitation and is 100%, I’m not gonna stand in the way of a fighter. I couldn’t quite believe the speed of which he wanted this fight and he deserves a huge amount of credit. I hope this puts him in the hearts of every boxing fan in the world because there’s no other heavyweight, I believe, in that top 10 that does this … If he wins on Saturday night this is the biggest statement in the division for a long time … Joseph Parker has just had a twelve week ultimate preparation … Martin is taking it on 48 hours and has to travel from the Congo.”
All credit should go to Parker, too, who showed excitement at the idea of a last-minute fight against Bakole, who’s latest stoppage of American Jared Anderson may have permanently changed the trajectory of Anderson’s career.
