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Sport Nation
Parker handed new opponent after shock Dubois withdrawal
Sport Nation • February 21st, 2025 8:45 am
Photo: Photosport
Joseph Parker has a new opponent for his co-main event in Saudi Arabia on Sunday (NZ time), after Daniel Dubois was forced to withdraw from the bout.
The Brit missed the event's opening press conference in Riyadh on Friday due to illness and has since been officially scratched from the card.
Parker will instead face Martin Bakole, a hard-hitting Congolese fighter who boasts a professional record of 21-1. He most recently knocked out Jared Anderson in California in August 2024 and is considered one of the most dangerous rising fighters in the division.
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Dubois' omission is a blow to Parker's title aspirations. A victory over the red-hot Englishman would have secured the IBF heavyweight title and a likely shot against unified champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Bakole was set to take on Efe Ajagba in an IBF final eliminator in May, but will now step in on short notice to face Parker.
Parker is seeking to record his sixth straight victory, coming off his statement win over Zhilei Zhang back in March.
Having been handed a second professional defeat by Usyk in 2023, Dubois has since stopped Filip Hrgovic, Jarrell Miller and Anthony Joshua.
Sunday's headliner is the rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol with the title of undisputed light-heavyweight world champion at stake. Beterbiev won after a contentious points decision over Bivol in October.
Listen to this week's episode of the Fight Club podcast below:
