Daniel Dubois is no longer fighting Joseph Parker tonight, leaving the latter to box Martin Bakole on short notice in Saudi Arabia.
Dubois was due to defend the IBF heavyweight title against Parker, but the Briton’s participation in the bout came under doubt on Thursday (20 February).
It was revealed that Dubois had fallen ill and was being “evaluated” by a doctor, as organisers sought possible replacements for the 27-year-old. After a press conference, at which it was confirmed Parker would stay on tonight’s card, Dubois was finally pulled from the event.
Martin Bakole was then named as Dubois’s surprising replacement. Bakole, 31, is often referred to as the “most-avoided” heavyweight in boxing, yet New Zealand’s Parker will fight the Congolese on just two days’ notice.
It is unclear whether Dubois vs Parker will be organised, but that outcome feels unlikely at this point. The current feeling within the sport is that 33-year-old Parker, should he beat Bakole, will get a shot at unified champion Oleksandr Usyk next.
With the WBO putting an interim title on the line in tonight’s heavyweight clash – and Usyk holding the regular WBO belt – the same opportunity should be handed to Bakole if he beats Parker, in theory. However, with Bakole having fewer wins than Parker at the elite level, some feel the Congolese should box Dubois next if he wins this evening, not fight Usyk.
Complicating the picture somewhat is Anthony Joshua, who lost to Dubois via knockout in September and has toyed with the idea of a rematch since. It was thought he might be waiting for the winner of Dubois vs Parker, although others felt Dubois or Parker should be guaranteed a shot at Usyk with a win this weekend.
Dubois fought Usyk in 2023 and lost via stoppage, although his promoter Frank Warren appealed the result, after Dubois landed a low blow that some believed was a legal body shot.
Parker enters his bout with Bakole on the back of five straight wins, including signatures victories over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang. The Kiwi beat both on points, bullying Wilder in late 2023 and climbing off the canvas twice to defeat Zhang in March.
Meanwhile, Bakole upset Jared Anderson last time out, stopping the American prospect in five rounds in August.
