Boxing Heavyweight Bout

Image credits: Sky Sports

The boxing world has been abuzz with the recent announcement that Martin Bakole will be replacing Daniel Dubois to face Joseph Parker in a highly anticipated heavyweight bout. This matchup is part of the undercard for the Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol rematch, which will be televised around the world. Bakole, who views himself as half-Scottish, has been training with experienced Scottish trainer Billy Nelson in Airdrie and is known for his impressive professional record of 21 wins, with 16 of those wins coming by way of knockout.

Bakole's promoter, Boxxer chief executive Ben Shalom, has expressed his confidence in his fighter's abilities, stating that even at 50% capacity, Bakole can beat both heavyweights. The partnership between Bakole and Nelson has been bearing fruit, with Bakole quietly going about his business while other names in the division have been taking the headlines. At 6ft 6in and weighing 280lbs, Bakole cuts a fearsome figure, and his undoubted pedigree is reflected by the fact that he is comfortably well within the top five in the IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO heavyweight rankings.

The bout between Bakole and Parker is expected to be a non-title contest, but the winner could potentially earn a title shot against IBF champion Daniel Dubois or Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed title. Dubois had to withdraw from the original bout due to illness, and his promoter, Frank Warren, is now looking at alternative fights for his champion. Warren has stated that Dubois could potentially rematch Anthony Joshua or fight Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed title, with both fighters expected to be in attendance at Saturday's fight.

The Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol rematch will be live on Sky Sports Box Office, and the undercard featuring Bakole vs Parker is expected to be a thrilling matchup. The winner of this bout will be one step closer to a title shot, and the boxing world will be watching with bated breath to see who will emerge victorious. Here are the match details:

• Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Date: Saturday, 22 February
• Time: 16:30 GMT (radio coverage), 19:30 GMT (live coverage)

In conclusion, the heavyweight bout between Martin Bakole and Joseph Parker is shaping up to be an exciting matchup, with the winner potentially earning a title shot against one of the top champions in the division. With the Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol rematch as the main event, this is a boxing card that fans will not want to miss. The boxing world will be watching to see who will emerge victorious and take one step closer to the top of the heavyweight division.