JOSEPH PARKER is now facing a new name after Daniel Dubois was forced to WITHDRAW from their huge fight.
And that name is Congolese star Martin Bakole with the last-minute bout on the big Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 2 undercard.
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Dubois was forced to pull out on Thursday – just two days before his hotly anticipated mega-fight in Saudi Arabia.
DDD was deemed medically unfit to compete by doctors and so Bakole, 33, will take his place in the chief support slot.
SunSport understands that the earliest whispers of a Dubois problem arose on Thursday morning when a head cold was hinted at.
Instead, Bakole – with a record of 21 wins and one loss from his 22 fights – steps in to fight Parker.
Bakole is coming into the bout on the back of a career-best victory over Jarred Anderson in August.
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When is Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole?
Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole is taking place on Saturday, February 22 from the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The fight is the co-main support to the headline bout of Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol.
It is expected that the fight will start from around 9pm GMT, with the undercard beginning from 4pm.
What TV channel and live stream is Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole on?
- Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole will be shown live on DAZN PPV, Sky Sports Box office and TNT Sports Box office.
- The event is available on pay-per-view for £19.99.
Is there a world title on the line for Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole?
There will be NO world titles will be on the line for Parker who was attempting to become a two-time champion.
Parker will still face IBF champion Dubois next when DDD is feeling better, barring any major catastrophe against Bakole.
Dubois won the belt when Oleksandr Usyk gave it up last summer to pursue a rematch with Tyson Fury instead of a second fight with Dubois, whom he beat in 2023.
Who is fighting on the full card?
- Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol for the IBF, IBO, WBC and WBO light-heavyweight titles
- Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole
- Shakur Stevenson vs Josh Padley for the WBC lightweight title
- Carlos Adames vs Hamzah Sheeraz for the WBC middleweight titke
- Vergil Ortiz Jr vs Israil Madrimov for the interim WBC heavyweight title
- Zhilei Zhang vs Agit Kabayel for the interim WBC heavyweight title
- Joshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith for the interim WBO light-heavyweight title
- Bradley Rea vs Constantino Nanga