Joseph Parker splatters flabby Martin Bakole inside two rounds
Joseph Parker needed just five minutes to dismantle an out-of-shape Martin Bakole.
Bakole had stepped in at 48 hours’ notice to replace Daniel Dubois after the Brit fell ill on Thursday. The Scotland-based Congolese raced from his homeland but only landed in Saudi Arabia on Saturday morning. And it proved a wasted – albeit lucrative – trip as he was sent crashing to the canvas by Parker in the second round, leaving the New Zealander as the mandatory challenger to world champion Oleksandr Usyk.
“I stayed calm, structured, composed and got the victory,” said Parker. “I’m fit, strong, healthy and sharp. Andy Lee broke it down for me, I had to be patient. How can I fight for the world title next? If Usyk wants a dance partner. I want to fight for a world title, I want to be champion of the world again.”
Bakole had no intention of taking the fight to Parker in the opening round, boxing on the back foot and welcoming the pressure from the Kiwi. Parker, who like Bakole had weighed in at a career-heaviest, was giving away 43lb to his late-replacement opponent but had the benefit of a five-month training camp.
And he began to attack Bakole’s flabby body in the second round, landing successive right hands. Parker moved his attack upstairs and another right hand Bakole. He initially appeared to take the shot well before his legs went from underneath him and he dropped to the canvas in stages.
Earlier, Hamzah Sheeraz fell short in his first world title fight, drawing with middleweight champion Carlos Adames. Sheeraz started well but faded as the fight went on with Adames seemingly doing enough to win. But only one judge thought so, with one giving Sheeraz the nod and one scoring the fight even.
Callum Smith, meanwhile, breathed new life into his career with an impressive win over British rival Joshua Buatsi. Smith edged out his fellow countryman on all three scorecards after a brutal back-and-forth. The former super-middleweight world champion was later taken to hospital after being cut above his right eye.
Doncaster sparky Josh Padley, who stepped in to fight three-weight world champion Shakur Stevenson on four days’ notice, fought valiantly before being dropped three times in the ninth round before the bout was waved off.
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