'Bakole believes in himself!' - Anthony Joshua backs heavyweight star to bounce back from Joseph Parker loss

Martin Bakole can continue to contend at the top end of the heavyweight division despite his loss to Joseph Parker, with Anthony Joshua backing the start to bounce back.

The Congolese fighter was a late replacement for Daniel Dubois against the New Zealander at Riyadh Season's The Last Crescendo, with just two days' notice to step in.

• Read more | Relive all the action from Riyadh Season's The Last Crescendo as Dmitry Bivol and Joseph Parker triumph

That turnaround was exposed by a dynamic Parker inside two rounds on the undercard of Dmitry Bivol's undisputed light heavyweight rematch win over Artur Beterbiev.

But Joshua feels Bakole, one of the rising stars bidding for a world title shot in the division, still firmly has a place in the conversation to reach the upper heavyweight tiers.

"Bakole believes in himself," he told The Stomping Ground. "That's the heavyweight division at the end of the day.

"There is an element of skill, but what makes the heavyweight division so interesting is that it takes one punch to change the course of a fight.

"Regardless if Bakole had five days or five weeks, that punch from a heavyweight knocks down or knocks out anyone. We're just too powerful.

"If it connects right, it doesn't matter if you've had five months in a training camp. A shot that lands like that knocks out anyone, so well done to Joe.

"Bakole believes in himself and he's got every right to. He's a serious fighter. That's not the end, this is the heavyweight division.

"If he's got it in him to fight again, I'm sure he will. He's a great addition to the division, so let's see him roll the dice again."

Joshua was part of DAZN's team on the ground in Riyadh, and enjoyed a ringside view to the main event afterwards, as Bivol claimed his revenge over Beterbiev.

The Briton is among those who believe there could be a third dance between the duo after their outstanding first two fights, adding: "It's phenomenal [to watch].

"I wonder if Dmitry Bivol will give Artur Beterbiev the trilogy. I'd watch a third one. I think they can both do [another dozen rounds]. I think they've got it in their locker."

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