Joseph Parker knocked out Martin Bakole in the second round of their heavyweight bout in Riyadh. Bakole stepped in on short notice after IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois pulled out due to illness.
Parker made quick work of his last-minute opponent. The New Zealander landed a powerful punch that ended the fight early, showing why he's a force in the heavyweight division.
Bakole faced a tough challenge from the start. He got to Riyadh early Saturday morning and had to weigh in on fight day. The Congolese fighter even missed the official weigh-in and had to use Dubois' gloves because his didn't arrive in time.
Former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua shared his thoughts on the fight. He praised Parker's performance and had encouraging words for Bakole.
"Bakole believes in himself. He has every right to because he's a serious fighter. That's not the end. This is the heavyweight division," Joshua said. "If he's got it in him to fight again I'm sure he will. I think Bakole is a great addition to the heavyweight division so let's see him roll the dice again."
Joshua also talked about how unpredictable heavyweight boxing can be. He explained that even with all the preparation in the world, one punch can change everything.
"That's the heavyweight division at the end of the day. There's an element of skill but what makes it so interesting is it takes one punch to change the course of a fight," Joshua stated.
Joshua's name has come up as a potential opponent for both Bakole and Parker. However, he didn't reveal any details about his next fight during the interview.
You can find more details about Parker's knockout win over Bakole on Sky Sports. For Joshua's full interview about Bakole's future, check out The Stomping Ground on YouTube.
