Joseph Parker Stopped Bakole
Joseph Parker knocked out Martin Bakole in Riyadh on February 22, 2025, after Daniel Dubois withdrew through illness. The replacement heavyweight contest ended at 2:17 of the second round, allowing Parker to retain his WBO interim championship.
The planned IBF challenge was canceled
Parker had been preparing to challenge Dubois for the IBF heavyweight title. Dubois underwent a medical examination in Saudi Arabia and missed a scheduled press conference before withdrawing on February 20.
Bakole accepted the replacement assignment at short notice. The switch preserved an appearance for Parker on the card, but it changed both the opponent and the championship circumstances of his evening.
A right hand ended the replacement bout
Parker landed a right hand high on Bakole’s head during the second round at Kingdom Arena. The punch sent the Congolese heavyweight to the canvas.
Bakole regained his feet, but his corner ended the contest. Parker emerged with a sixth consecutive victory, while Bakole’s professional record moved to twenty-one wins and two defeats.
The victory extended Parker’s pursuit
The result left Parker with thirty-six wins against three defeats. He called afterward for another opportunity against a leading champion, naming Oleksandr Usyk and Dubois as potential opponents.
Bakole had entered after a major victory over Jared Anderson the previous August. His late acceptance created a difficult change of preparation for both fighters, and Parker supplied the decisive finish in the contest that actually took place after the canceled Dubois defense.
Sources
- Reuters: Dubois withdrawal and original IBF booking
- theScore: replacement finish, records, venue and Parker’s response
