JOSEPH PARKER VS. MARTIN BAKOLE FINALIZED FOR "THE LAST CRESCENDO"
The Ring has now confirmed that IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois is unable to move forward with his scheduled defense against former champion Joseph Parker on Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
A few options were being considered - which included former world champion Lawrence Okolie, contender David Adeleye and undefeated Mourad Aliev.
However, a monster replacement has been secured - with one of the most dangerous men at the weight, Martin Bakole, accepting the fight against Parker.
Bakole (21-1, 16 KOs) is coming off his five round battering of unbeaten Jared Anderson from last August, which was part of a Riyadh Season card in Los Angeles, California.
Parker is no stranger to facing dangerous men. In his last two fights, Parker upset the odds by defeating Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang - two of the biggest hitters at the weight - and both contests took place in Riyadh.
Saturday's huge Riyadh Season card is headlined by the undisputed light heavyweight rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.
Other fights on the card include WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson facing Josh Padley, Israil Madrimov challenging Vergil Ortiz Jr for the WBC Interim-world super welterweight belt. Callum Smith battles British rival Joshua Buatsi for the WBO interim-world light heavyweight crown. Carlos Adames' WBC world middleweight championship is at stake against undefeated Hamzah Sheeraz. And Zhilei Zhang faces Agit Kabayel for the WBC interim-world heavyweight title.
