Joseph Parker showcased his prowess in the ring with a decisive second-round knockout of Martin Bakole on Sunday morning (AEDT). Originally set to face Daniel Dubois for the IBF world title, Parker took on Bakole on short notice after Dubois withdrew. The bout ended swiftly when Parker dropped Bakole, prompting the referee and Bakole’s corner to halt the fight.
This victory marks Parker’s sixth consecutive win, solidifying his position as a leading contender for a clash with Oleksandr Usyk, the reigning champion with four titles in the heavyweight division. In his post-fight comments, Parker expressed gratitude to Bakole for stepping in and reiterated his desire to pursue a world title fight. “Who’s next? How do I fight for the world title next? If Usyk wants a dance partner, I’ll get uncle Frank [Warren] to come in here and lock in a fight,” Parker stated, showing determination to reclaim his championship status.
With a record of 36 wins and 3 losses, Parker has experienced a remarkable resurgence as one of the top heavyweights in boxing. The event also featured Dmitry Bivol winning a majority decision against Artur Beterbiev for the unified light-heavyweight title, alongside other significant matches in Saudi Arabia.