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Who is Daniel Dubois' replacement vs Joseph Parker? Who is Martin Bakole?
Martin Bakole fights tonight, at two days' notice and breaking from his holiday, to step in to be the surprise name on the Last Crescendo fight card on Saturday night, live on DAZN PPV, to replace IBF world champion Daniel Dubois.
Champ Dubois was set to defend his world title against New Zealander Joseph Parker, on the Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 2 headlined event, which sees seven world title bouts.
However, the Brit became the second fighter to pull out of the spectacular card after suffering illness on Thursday evening. The news came just 24 hours after Floyd Schofield was hospitalised ahead of his battle with Shakur Stevenson .
Rather than Dubois's IBF on the line, Parker will now defend his interim world championship against the Congolese fighter at the weekend.
31-year-old Bakole (21-1, 16 KOs) last fought in August, when he stopped American Jared Anderson in the fifth round of their bout in Los Angeles. The Scotland resident has won 10 straight fights since suffering the lone defeat of his career in 2018.
Bakole was set to fight again in May against Efe Ajagba, so will have been ticking over in terms of fitness and sparring time. However, he was currently on holiday in his home country the Democratic Republic Of The Congo.
The winner of the original Dubois vs Parker bout was expected to meet Oleksandr Usyk for an undisputed heavyweight fight later in the year. Ironically Bakole recently called out Usyk himself , saying: “I would love to fight Oleksandr Usyk for unification.”
“That’s a beautiful fight because I would knock him out, nice and cool. Nobody would stand before me without going down.”
That could now become a reality, if Bakole takes his unexpected opportunity against Parker and defeats the former WBO world champion.
Who is Martin Bakole?
Martin Bakole is a 6'6", 280lb giant of a heavyweight, who boasts a record of 21 victories, 16 by knockout, and only one loss.
Born in Kananga, Democratic Republic Of The Congo, Bakole now lives in Airdrie in Scotland, UK.
His professional debut came in March 2014, recording a second-round technical knockout win over Cecil Smith, before racing to a 9–0 run of victories.
Bakole eventually suffered his first loss in 2018. That came against Olympian and cruiserweight world title challenger Michael Hunter via TKO in the tenth-round.
However, the Congolese athlete only improved from there, winning his next 10 fights. These included TKO wins over Rodney Hernandez, Kevin Johnson, Mariusz Wach and Carlos Takam.
Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
What was Martin Bakole last's fight?
Bakole last fought in August 2024, his only fight of the year. He took on the unbeaten American Jared Anderson at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
Bakole put in an impressive display, recording a fifth-round knockout, having already sent Anderson to the mat in round one and earlier in the fifth.
Since then Bakole has been waiting for his chance to battle the very top of the heavyweight division, with some pundits believing potential contenders were deliberately avoiding the fighter after his recent destructive displays.
However, now through good fortune, Bakole will finally fight on boxing's biggest stage - in the greatest fight card ever put together - for the world title shot he has been craving and firmly believes he deserves.
Watch Parker vs Bakole and full Last Crescendo card live on DAZN PPV
Watch Parker vs Bakole, Beterbiev vs Bivol, and the full Last Crescendo fight card live on DAZN Pay-Per-View.
The PPV is available to buy now at £19.99 in UK and $25.99 in US.
Buying the DAZN PPV offers a range of extra benefits. including alternative commentary options with Adam Smith or True Geordie or Showbizz the Adult ; local language commentary; entry to a prize draw for tickets to Chris Eubank Jr. vs Connor Benn* (for UK only); and a seven-day free trial of the full DAZN platform.
Watch the fight night anywhere with DAZN via smart TV's, smartphones, tablets, games consoles, streaming devices and PC's / laptops.
For PPV costs in your country and to buy now, click here .
*UK only. Restrictions apply. See T&Cs on help.dazn.com. Full T&C's here
- Beterbiev vs Bivol 2: Fight guide
- Parker vs Bakole: Fight guide
- Boxing champions list in every division
- Complete list of undisputed heavyweight boxing champions
- How do weight classes work?
- What are the major boxing titles?
- How is boxing scored?
