Anthony Joshua has defeated Joseph Parker and sparred with Martin Bakole.
Appearing at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh Saudi Arabia on Saturday night, the former unified heavyweight world champion saluted Bakole for stepping up on late notice to take an ill Daniel Dubois' place against Parker.
"He's a fighter, that's what he's supposed to do," Joshua told DAZN. "I wanted to step in, I got my injuries.
"I get Martin Bakole's mentality," AJ added. "If you got the belief and that power that Bakole has, that's all you need. He wouldn't have taken this fight if he's not ready. I think he believes in himself more than his fitness. I just think he believes in himself."
Bakole, who tipped the scale at over 300 pounds, might have had the confidence but stepping in on late notice proved damaging as Parker connected with a hellacious right hook to the temple which crumbled the Congolese heavyweight to the canvas in just the second round.
Though a rocked Bakole made it to his feet, the referee didn't see what was needed from him to allow the bout to continue and ended it right there for the electric second-round TKO win for Parker.
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