Parker's recent success includes a points victory over Zhilei Zhang, despite being put down twice, and a win against once-fearsome American knockout artist Deontay Wilder. These victories have put Parker in a strong position in the heavyweight ranks.
The fight against Bakole wasn't originally planned. Parker was set to face IBF champion Daniel Dubois, but Dubois pulled out due to illness during fight week. Bakole stepped in as a last-minute replacement, though he wasn't in camp but in good form.
In the second round, Parker caught Bakole on top of the head. The punch was so effective that Bakole's trainer, Billy Nelson, instructed the referee to stop the fight.
After the match, Derek Chisora brought Parker a burger. The interaction, captured by The Stomping Ground, led to an interesting exchange between the two fighters.
Chisora: "Do you want to do it?" Parker: "Let's do it, yeah."
Chisora's looking for his 50th and final opponent, and it seems Parker might be the one. The British fighter praised Parker's performance, saying:
"Listen, he didn't even come out of first gear bro."
Parker and Chisora have a history in the ring. Their first encounter ended in a split decision win for Parker. In their 2022 rematch, Parker secured a unanimous points victory, knocking Chisora down three times.
While a third fight with Chisora is now on the table, Parker's immediate interest lies in a world title shot against Daniel Dubois. There's also potential for a future clash with unified champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Parker's recent string of victories has put him in a prime position in the heavyweight division. His next move will be crucial in determining his path to a world title shot.