Joseph Parker validated that he is willing to fight anyone with his reaction to the declarement of his upcoming opponent.
The New Zealander was preparing to face Daniel Dubois in Saudi Arabia on Saturday but the Brit pulled out fair two days before the event. Organisers put their heads together with Parker’s team and made rapid toil of calling up Martin Bakole – one of the most-dreaded burdensomeweights in the division.
But Parker’s reaction made it clear that he will never back down from a contest, as he met the declarement with excitement rather than apprehension.
On a frantic Thursday in Riyadh, the 33-year-better seemingly set up out about who he would be battling during an interwatch with iFL TV. And when the name Bakole was put to Parker, his eyes expansivened as he beamed: “Oooh let’s go!”
On whether he was disassigned about the Dubois fight droping thraw, Parker proceedd: “It’s all part of boxing and part of the journey. I guess one opportunity goes away and another one comes.”
His scrap with Dubois would have been for the IBF burdensomeweight title, but Parker will now be forced to postpone for another chance to become a two-time champion of the world. And Bakole is a gutsy choice of swapment, given that a fall shorture could see him slip out of the title picture.
The Congolese competitor has not lost for over six years, with the only fall shorture on his 21-1 write down coming aacquirest Michael Hunter in 2018. The only other fighter to have beaten Hunter is the unfall shortureed and undisputed burdensomeweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Since his loss to the American, 6ft 6in Bakole has beaten the appreciates of Mariusz Wach, Sergey Kuzmin, Tony Yoka and Carlos Takam. He was last in the ring in August, and it remains to be seen whether he has kept himself in battling shape, given the last-minute nature of the call-up to face Parker.
“He has been postponeing for a big fight,” Parker proceedd. “So let’s get it on. Hopebrimmingy we can revisit this [Dubois] fight down the line becaengage I want to be champion of the world. Bakole is the most-eludeed burdensomeweight but I cherish to contest myself.
“My team sat down and had a talkion, a rapid talk, and we greetd anyone. Now we have got Martin Bakole, which is fantastic. I will have my chance aacquire at some point, but now my cgo in is on Martin Bakole. He is a beast, so let’s get ready.”
