Boxing

DANIEL DUBOIS has plenty of options for his next fight after pulling out of his bout with Joseph Parker, according to Frank Warren.The promoter wants to see him rematch Oleksandr Usyk, having lost to the heavyweight world champion in August 2023.Daniel Dubois has plenty of options for his next fightCredit: GettyOleksandr Usyk or Anthony Joshua could be next up for DuboisCredit: GettyBut there are multiple options on the table for Dubois, including a showdown with Parker.Dubois withdrew from the fight in Saudi Arabia after being declared medically unfit following sickness.However he is expected to return to the ring in the next three months and Warren believes his withdrawal presents more opportunities in terms of his next opponent.He told Sky Sports: “I feel the perverse thing out of it is we’ve got more of an option now.READ MORE IN BOXING”I’d like to see the rematch with Usyk. That’s an option, if it can be done I’d love that.”But then we’ve got Joe Parker, we’ve got AJ, who’s got over his injury and he may want to do it now with the fact he’s been ill, who knows?”Joshua and Usyk will be in attendance for Parker’s fight against Martin Bakole, who stepped up as a late replacement for Dubois.Warren expects to talk to the two boxers and their teams about a potential fight with Dubois.Most read in BoxingJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSFrank Warren’s Commonwealth Gold medalist Lewis Williams builds to second pro fight | Contender Watch the full episode of Contender on Sun Sport’s YouTube channel NOW as we exclusively go behind the scenes with Lewis WilliamsHe continued: “We’ll have a look and see. They’re all here. No doubt we’ll look and have a chat.”That’s all we do. This is a gathering of the clans. Sit down and have a chat and see what’s going on.”Frank Warren, 72, in face off with Joseph Parker before shoving the 19st heavyweight boxer in SaudiJoshua could be a frontrunner to face Dubois after his promoter Eddie Hearn revealed he is keen for a rematch.Hearn told Sky Sports: “That’s what AJ wants. He wants to fight for the world heavyweight title. So that’s the number one priority.”At this stage he’s about trying to become a three-time world heavyweight champion. He missed out on that opportunity last time and he’d love another crack.” More

FRANK WARREN shoved Joseph Parker in jest as the pair jokingly faced off in Saudi Arabia.Parker, 33, was due to face Warren’s fighter Daniel Dubois in Riyadh.Frank Warren and Joseph Parker jokingly faced off ahead of the fightCredit: Sky Sports BoxingParker started laughing as Warren jokingly gave him a shoveCredit: Sky Sports BoxingWarren stood in for Martin Bakole as he travelled to RiyadhCredit: GettyDaniel Dubois was meant to face Parker but withdrew due to sicknessCredit: APBut the heavyweight champion pulled out at a late hour because of sickness.Congolese boxer Martin Bakole will take his place but was still on his way to the Saudi capital when it was time for the pre-fight face-off.So Warren, 72, stepped up in his place and stared down Parker with a smirk on his face.The promoter then gave the kiwi a little shove as the pair broke out in laughter.READ MORE BOXINGWarren admitted he was surprised by Parker’s request to fight 19-1 Bakole after Dubois’ withdrawal.He said: “We had a list of fighters we talked about and this was the one he asked for – which I was a bit surprised about,” Warren told Sky Sports.”I stood back and said ‘hang on a minute’. I want to see this guy do it now.”How many people in boxing have seen much of Bakole? Let’s see what he’s about now.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSFrank Warren’s Commonwealth Gold medalist Lewis Williams builds to second pro fight | Contender Watch the full episode of Contender on Sun Sport’s YouTube channel NOW as we exclusively go behind the scenes with Lewis Williams”The monster, the so-called avoided fighter… well he’s not being avoided by Joseph Parker.”Dubois was deemed medically unfit to compete by doctors and so fast-rising star Bakole will take his place.Martin Bakole vows to cause huge upset and could weigh in at over 300 pounds for Parker fight The 31-year-old took the call from his native Congo and agreed to step in for Dubois on just two days notice.The Scottish-based heavyweight was back in his homeland on holiday before flying out to Riyadh. More

MARTIN BAKOLE was out digging ditches in a Congolese wasteland three days ago and now fights on the biggest boxing stage imaginable.The 6ft 6in, 20st powerhouse set up training camp with Billy Nelson in Airdrie, Scotland, 16 years ago but has his family and child back in Kinshasa.Martin Bakole is standing in for Daniel Dubois in Saudi ArabiaCredit: GettyBakole will take on Joseph ParkerCredit: GettyDespite having a USA fight scheduled for May, Bakole was enjoying himself — and building a shopping centre to be named in his honour.But when Daniel Dubois was pulled out of tonight’s IBF heavyweight world title defence against Joseph Parker on Thursday night, the 33-year-old put up his hand.Promoter Frank Warren had a couple of English heavyweights training nearby Dubai who would have been quicker to ship in and easier for Parker to agree to… and to beat.But credit to the fearless Kiwi, 33, for signing off on Bakole.READ MORE IN BOXINGThankfully for the British Boxing Board of Control medics — and their expensive scales — he does not need to make weight and did not arrive in time for last night’s preliminaries.Bakole is a big boy at the best of times, even when training in Greengairs or jetting around the world for sparring.But when he has treated himself to a rest or is wrestling with an injury, he really fills out.Before his October 2023 win over Carlos Takam here in Riyadh, Bakole was floored by a crippling back injury.Most read in BoxingBakole beat Jared Anderson in Los Angeles last yearCredit: GettyBakole has been helping construct a shopping centre in CongoThe shopping centre will be named in his honourHe has now flown out to Saudi Arabia on short notice for Saturday’s fightThe powerhouse has touched down and is ready to cause an upsetCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSNelson hired him a live-in masseuse called Anna and — despite ballooning to 21st — he pulled off a brilliant win.Incredibly, one of the reasons he was a hit with the young Saudi crowd was his repeated thanks to Anna for her work.Frank Warren’s Commonwealth Gold medalist Lewis Williams builds to second pro fight | Contender Watch the full episode of Contender on Sun Sport’s YouTube channel NOW as we exclusively go behind the scenes with Lewis WilliamsThe young Muslim fans thought he was celebrating Allah and cheered furiously.If the videos of him helping with the construction are anything to go by, Bakole is injury free but not exactly fighting fit.A middle-aged-dad paunch poked out of his midriff as he waited to fly here. So do not be surprised if the roly-poly puncher bounces into the ring somewhere near 22st.Bakole’s odyssey to the Gulf of Aden has been so hasty that his Boxxer promoters and Sky Sports did not manage to reach him for a video interview to help plug the fight — and he was due to arrive here at 3am this morningThankfully, the loveable giant connected with fans on Insta and vowed to put Kinshasa back on the heavyweight boxing map — 51 years after Muhammad Ali and George Foreman’s Rumble in the Jungle.The underdog said: “I will shock the world. A boxer is like a soldier… any time they ask you to go to war, be ready.”With his two best wins coming in America in August and the desert ten months earlier, Bakole is most famous among UK fight fans for being Anthony Joshua’s favourite sparring partner.AJ became richer and more famous with every camp while Bakole seemed to be largely avoided.Yet, before he went to Los Angeles to batter local favourite Jared Anderson last time out, he issued a warning: “For years I have been known as ‘the sparring partner’.READ MORE SUN STORIES“I was happy to travel, happy to take little pay, happy to stay in a cheap place, happy to do as I am told.“But soon I will get my chance. And nobody will ever be able to call me just ‘a sparring partner again’.”Bakole is a sparring partner for Anthony JoshuaCredit: Instagram @martin_bakole_ FollowHe has also sparred with Tyson FuryCredit: instagramOleksandr Usyk has felt the force of his punch tooCredit: x More

A BOXER has gone on trial accused of murder after allegedly killing a florist with a single punch over a photo of a bunch of flowers. Kivanc Sensoz, 32, got into an altercation with Esref Yunus Yildirici, 29, in October 2024.Florist Esref Yunus Yildirici was killed in OctoberCredit: NF/newsXIt is said Sensoz got angry when a picture of his floral designer wife’s work was shared on social media.The boxer is alleged to have stormed into Yildirici’s store in Antalya, Turkey.Prosecutors say he shouted: “why are you stealing my wife’s work?”Distressing CCTV footage then appears to show Sensoz attacking the florist, who tried to make peace with the athlete.READ MORE SPORT NEWSHowever, Sensoz unleashed the unprovoked lethal punch with his right hand to Yildirici’s head, sending him crashing to the concrete floor in disturbing scenes. Sensoz then kicked his unconscious victim three times before connecting with more punches as Yildirici lay on the floor. The victim’s uncle Ali Okur then dragged Sensoz away and tussled with the shaven-headed boxer.Women can be heard screaming out of shot from the CCTV camera.Most read in BoxingLater footage allegedly shows the accused killer cradling Yildirici’s head and saying: “What have I done, God damn me.”Yildirici was taken to Kepez State Hospital but died seven days later in intensive care following a shattered skull and brain haemorrhage, according to medical records. The feud was triggered when Yildirici’s sister allegedly posted the snap of a bouquet created by Sensoz’s wife Dara.Sensoz appeared to take matters into his own hands to settle the row and confronted the rival florists. Yildirici’s family called on Turkey’s High Criminal Court to find Sensoz guilty and give him a whole-life sentence behind bars. His crying dad Muhammed said: “I want this defendant to take the heaviest punishment. “My baby should be home now, not under the ground.”Mum Aysun added: “He broke up our family. He killed my young son. READ MORE SUN STORIES”He took my son away from life in the spring of his youth.”The case continues but was adjourned so Sensoz’s phone records could be entered as evidence. Sensoz appears to cradle the unconscious victim’s headCredit: NF/newsXYildirici’s family called on the accused murderer to be handed a whole-life prison sentenceCredit: NF/newsX More