JOSEPH PARKER has STOPPED Martin Bakole in two-round belter in Saudi Arabia!
Parker was due to face Daniel Dubois for DDD’s IBF world title, but the British champion withdrew from the fight on Thursday due to illness.
In stepped Bakole in his place, who flew in from Congo on just TWO days notice .
And Bakole lasted just two rounds before a Parker right saw the late replacement pulled out by his corner.
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Beterbiev vs Bivol – R3
Beterbiev races out of the corner again to try and close the distance but Bivol counters with a two-piece to his stomach.
Beterbiev is not deterred and comes in again, but Bivol again does some superb work on the back foot as he lands a clean counter.
The champ is relentless in his pressure, so Bivol has to continue to make him pay.
He does with a nice uppercut then a left, but Beterbiev lands a couple of nice shots himself.
Bivol has some success but Beterbiev then fires in some very heavy shots at the end of the round.
This is sensational quality, Bivol lands another nice combo as does the champ.
A very narrow 2-1 to Bivol on my card.
Beterbiev vs Bivol – R2
Beterbiev comes out positively from the corner, he perhaps agrees with me that he lost that first round.
The Canadian is working behind the jab in this fight – again in stark contrast to the first meeting where he threw more than 1,000 total punches.
His picking his shots much more this time round.
Bivol is looking to match the work rate as he throws many more shots than he did at this stage first time out.
Beterbiev keeps working the jab but Bivol then whips in a lovely right hand that lands cleanly.
This is high quality stuff from these two.
Beterbiev lands a lovely body shot then follows it with a quick one-two that nearly pins Bivol on the ropes.
He escapes but Beterbiev stepped up the pace noticeably there – 1-1 for me.
Beterbiev vs Bivol – R1
Stark difference in the opening round of the two fights so far.
In the first meeting, Beterbiev was well on top and was able to pressure Bivol and get him moving backwards.
Bivol is not conceding any ground here, as he stands his ground and fires a couple back at his rival.
Bivol was cautious in that one but is firing away – he lands a nice left hook that catches a bit of Beterbiev’s glove on the way in.
Much quicker pace about it in this round.
Beterbiev lands a decent right late on, but I have that round for Bivol.
Let’s get ready to rumble!
Michael Buffer says the famous words after we hear the Saudi anthem and get the introductions of both fighters.
We’re only moments away now…
Here they come
Dimitry Bivol gets a lukewarm response on his way to the ring while Artur Beterbiev gets a huge roar as his name is announced.
It’s very clear which fighter the crowd are backing in this one.
We cannot wait for this, these two are among the very best.
Promo
We’ve got an elaborate promo running right now as we build-up to the mega rematch between two of the world’s very best fighters.
Many people felt Dimitry Bivol was robbed in the first fight, when he finished the much stronger fighter.
Will Bivol be able to gain his revenge tonight?
‘We want all the smoke’
Eddie Hearn previewed the huge main event that is due to start any second.
The Matchroom chief said: “For me [Bivol] won the first fight, it was very close.
“This is about discipline and concentration.
“Artur Beterbiev is a ticking time bomb, how long can you stop him from going boom.
“I think Beterbiev will try and walk him down faster this time, so he has to be prepared.”
Then asked about the return of 5vs5, Hearn responded: “Matchroom vs Queensbury, Matchroom vs Golden Boy – bring it on, we want all the smoke.”
5vs5 returns?
Boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh is being interviewed by DAZN and has dropped a few nuggets that will get boxing fans excited.
He says “we have a lot of things coming this year”.
That included teasing the return of 5vs5 in July, a massive fight between Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney, as well as fights in Africa and, of course, the confirmed Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn fight at Tottenham.
Parker speaks
Joseph Parker spoke in the ring and pleaded his case for a world title next.
He was meant to fight Daniel Dubois for the IBF title tonight and he is still the WBO mandatory challenger for Oleksandr Usyk.
As one of the most in-form heavyweights in boxing, he thoroughly deserves a title shot next.
Parker said: “Martin Bakole thanks for accepting the challenge and flying all the way here.
“I listened, stayed calm, structured composed and got the victory.
“I want to fight for the world title next.
“We’ve got Frank [Warren] here… I want a world title next.
“When I came back to the corner, Andy [Lee] gave me instructions to be patient, when he comes in throw the overhand right.”
Asked if he would prefer to fight Usyk or Dubois, Parker said: “I will fight anyone and everyone.”
Quick night’s work
Well that didn’t last long at all – 5mins and 17 seconds in total.
Should various reports on the internet be believed then Bakole earned around $600,000 for his short trip to Saudi Arabia.
He took a massive shot but it was a no-lose situation for the Congolese star.
Nice work if you can get it.
Big shot rocks Bakole
It was a massive overhand right that sent Bakole tumbling.
It landed on the top of his big thick head and while Bakole didn’t tumble straight to the floor, his legs went like jelly and he went stumbling backwards.
Parker vs Bakole – R2 – Parker WINS!
Bakole’s trainer Billy Nelson offers us another little nugget about Bakole’s camp – he hasn’t done any sparring in weeks.
Parker throws some stiff jabs to start the fight and then closes the distance on the big man.
That seems dangerous as Bakole gets on the inside and lands two absolutely massive body shots.
Parker continues pushing forward though and then hits pay dirt – a massive right lands on Bakole’s head and sends him tumbling to the ground!
There was a delayed reaction from Bakole as he went tumbling backwards.
His legs were totally wobbly as he got back up and the ref quickly waves it off.
A real shame that didn’t last longer!
Parker vs Bakole – R1
An almost comically static start from Bakole who isn’t on his toes and is just standing waiting for Parker to come forward.
The Kiwi isn’t quite prepared to do that in this first round and is content to fire out a couple of jabs.
Not much action or landing so far as the two massive fighters size each other up.
Parker definitely looks better, though, as he fires off a decent one-two in the final minute of the round.
Bakole finally makes his move inside the final 20 seconds and lands a massive shot to end the round!
Well, that certainly will have woken Parker up!
Here they come
Martin Bakole is first to the ring as he arrives draped in the Congolese flag and a plain black t-shirt.
Then comes Joseph Parker – at the heaviest weight of his career – in a red gown with a glittery hoodie.
This is an absolutely top quality heavyweight fight and, remember, an eliminator for the WBO title, currently held by Oleksandr Usyk.
Buffer in the building
You know it’s a big fight night when Michael Buffer is in the building!
We’re just moments away now, ring walks are expected very shortly…
‘Everything should favour Joe’
Promoter Frank Warren has just had another quick word with TNT Sports and said: “Joseph Parker has come in heavy, which is better.
“Joe has to create the pace and keep moving.
“Everything should favour Joe with a last-minute opponent.
“But there’s so many times we’ve seen big upsets.”
Another late call
Like Josh Padley, Martin Bakole was another late call-up to this fight.
The heavyweight only landed in Saudi Arabia at 2am yesterday local time – 23hrs later he’s about to step into a massive title eliminator against Joseph Parker.
It’s unclear how much training Bakole has had in recent weeks, with reports stating that he’s going to be entering the ring at a massive 310lbs.
At his last fight he weighed in at 285lbs.
The fight is also interesting because of Parker’s mindset – he was expecting to fight Daniel Dubois for the heavyweight title tonight.
What a performance by both!
Shakur Stevenson ended that fight with clinical excellence and will get plaudits for stepping on the pace when the fight was on the line.
Josh Padley has earned himself a lot of new supporters again, that was a bold and gutsy performance in incredible circumstances.
Taking a fight with a pound-for-pound star and three-weight world champion on THREE DAYS notice.
Sensational.
Stevenson vs Padley – R9 – STEVENSON WINS!
Stevenson starts the round with slightly more pace and starts to let his hands go a little bit more.
A MASSIVE body shot rains into Padley and sends him down on one knee!
Stevenson smells blood and then fires in more massive shots – another BIG body shot sends him down again!
Padley continues to fight on but yet another body shot sends him down for a THIRD TIME!
He beats the count once again and the bell rings.
But as it does the towel comes in and it’s all over!
Stevenson vs Padley – R8
Padley is not giving up in this fight, this is really tremendous courage from him.
Stevenson continues to push out that jab with great success.
Padley goes in with a three-punch combo that looks like good work but they were blocked and deflected.
Three straight shots then land plum on Padley’s nose as his head rocks back.
Another round for Stevenson.
Parker vs Bakole – NEXT
Just a reminder this is the final fight before we the massive heavyweight clash between Joseph Parker and Martin Bakole.
Stevenson vs Padley – R7
I don’t think many people would have thought Josh Padley would be seeing round seven against Shakur Stevenson.
He continues to fire his shots and put pressure on Stevenson, who will knows he is in a fight.
The American continues to do the better work though, with that jab pretty much unstoppable from the Yorkeshireman.
A mega body shot with the left then has Padley grimacing but he continues to fire his own shots.
The pair then share a little look at the end of the round.
That didn’t look too friendly but this is a really gutsy performance.
Stevenson vs Padley – R6
Excellent start from Padley as he starts the round on top and puts on a couple of combos to put some pressure onto Stevenson.
The champ then responds with two absolutely quality shots that just seem to monetarily hurt Padley.
Stevenson has really upped the pace and unleashes a lovely combo that has Padley really hurt!
Incredible stuff as Padley again bares down and fires back, incredible bravery here.
Stevenson hears the roars of the crowd and smiles mid-clinch.
Brave stuff from Padley but the quality work is coming from Stevenson, although he continues to fire and put in work.
Stevenson vs Padley – R5
Stevenson continues to work behind that job but Padley manages to come forward and land a nice little one-two.
Stevenson’s jab is so good, though, and he is getting it to land as often as he likes.
The champ is a man of few weaknesses and every time Padley looks to have let off a good shot or got into range, Stevenson uses his range to win the exchanges.
Padley does then land a nice right but Stevenson still manages to fire something back to him.
HUGE body shot goes in from Stevenson really hurts Padley!
He felt that but then shows some guts to continue firing back.
Stevenson ends the round with another one-two and an uppercut, as Padley grits his teeth and tries to throw back.
Another round in the bank for the champ.
Stevenson vs Padley – R4
Padley trying to get in closer in round four and lay his gloves on Stevenson.
He pushes him into the corner and gets a couple of shots to land but it’s good defence to stop those doing any damage.
Stevenson continues to throw out his jab and a couple land, although they aren’t massive in any way.
Stevenson then smashes Padley with a short right that draws another gasp.
Padley is doing himself really proud in there – not just surviving but also showing some guts to try and win this fight.
Another round to Stevneson, though.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
