Martin Bakole stepped up at incredibly late notice to face Joseph Parker as a stand in replacement for Daniel Dubois, who had fallen ill with a virus less

Martin Bakole took a big risk by agreeing to step in for a sick Daniel Dubois to face Joseph Parker on 48 hours' notice. That risk did not pay off for Bakole as a glancing Parker right hand to the temple put Bakole down and forced the corner to halt the fight prior to the end of the second round of the co-main event on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev vs.

After accepting a fight against Joseph Parker with just 48 hours notice, Scottish-based Congolese heavyweight Martin Bakole has finally landed in Riyadh, Saudi

He quickly got to work in the ring and though he took one or two shots himself, in the second round he landed a thudding right hand on the top of Bakole’s head which sent him to the canvas. Although he rose, it was on unsteady legs and his trainer Billy Nelson had the referee stop the fight.

With Daniel Dubois withdrawing from his heavyweight title defense against Joseph Parker due to a viral infection, Martin Bakole will step in as Parker's new opponent.