Daniel Dubois Withdraws from Joseph Parker Fight Due to Illness, Martin Bakole Steps In

Image credits: Sky Sports

The highly anticipated IBF heavyweight title defense between Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker has been cancelled due to Dubois' illness, with Martin Bakole stepping in as a late replacement. Dubois, who was scheduled to make his second title defense, fell ill just two days before the fight and was deemed medically unfit to compete. The news was announced during a chaotic press conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Parker was left to face a new opponent on short notice.

Parker, who was initially disappointed by the news, has since accepted the change and is now focused on facing Bakole for the WBO Interim heavyweight title. The winner of the fight will become the mandatory challenger for the WBO heavyweight title, currently held by Oleksandr Usyk. Bakole, a highly rated heavyweight from the Congo, has a reputation for being one of the most avoided fighters in the division, with a record of 21 wins and one loss. He is known for his devastating punching power, having recently knocked out Jared Anderson in the fifth round of their fight.

The fight between Parker and Bakole is expected to be a highly competitive and exciting matchup, with both fighters looking to prove themselves as top contenders in the heavyweight division. Parker, a former WBO heavyweight champion, has been in good form recently, having won five consecutive fights, including victories over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang. Bakole, on the other hand, has been chasing the biggest fights in boxing, but has been avoided by many top fighters due to his formidable reputation.

The fight will take place on Saturday, February 22, in Saudi Arabia, as part of a stacked card that includes the highly anticipated rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed light heavyweight title. Other notable fights on the card include Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Carlos Adames for the WBC middleweight title and Shakur Stevenson vs. a yet-to-be-announced opponent. The event is expected to be one of the biggest and most exciting in boxing this year, with many top fighters and pundits predicting a thrilling night of action.

Here are the match scores and statistics for the upcoming fights:

• Joseph Parker vs. Martin Bakole: WBO Interim heavyweight title
• Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol: Undisputed light heavyweight title
• Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Carlos Adames: WBC middleweight title

The tournament schedule is as follows:

1. Saturday, February 22: Joseph Parker vs. Martin Bakole
2. Saturday, February 22: Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol
3. Saturday, February 22: Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Carlos Adames

The current rankings for the heavyweight division are:

• Oleksandr Usyk: WBO heavyweight champion
• Daniel Dubois: IBF heavyweight champion
• Joseph Parker: Former WBO heavyweight champion

The statistics for the fighters are:

• Joseph Parker: 35 wins, 3 losses
• Martin Bakole: 21 wins, 1 loss
• Artur Beterbiev: 20 wins, 0 losses

The player profiles are:

• Joseph Parker: Former WBO heavyweight champion from New Zealand
• Martin Bakole: Highly rated heavyweight from the Congo
• Artur Beterbiev: Undisputed light heavyweight champion from Russia

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