Explainers

JOSEPH PARKER and Martin Bakole are set to go head-to-head for the interim WBO Interim heavyweight championship.Both are in incredible form; Parker’s on a five-match winning run and Bakole himself is on a run of 10 wins, with the only loss of his career coming in 2018.Parker hasn’t lost a fight since 2022Credit: ReutersMartin Bakole has stepped in for the ill Daniel DuboiaCredit: gettyParker comes into the bout with a record of 35-3-0, having lost just once to Joe Joyce since 2019, and currently holds the WBO interim heavyweight title.This kind of fight could easily main event a pay-per-view, speaking to the quality of the card on display when Artur Beterbiev rematches against Dmitry Bivol.What time will the fight start in the UK?The card is expected to get started at around 4.15pm UK time.Bakole and Parker ring walks will be around 9.10pm GMT TONIGHT. The event will be broadcast live on DAZN Pay-Per-View, with PPV available to buy now at £19.99 in UK and $25.99 in US.Alternatively, you can tune into the SunSport’s live blog for updates on the night.Why is Daniel Dubois vs Joseph Parker OFF?Daniel Dubois withdrew from his IBF heavyweight world title defence against Joseph Parker due to illness.READ MORE IN BOXING DDD was forced to pull out on Thursday – just two days before his hotly anticipated mega-fight in Saudi Arabia.The 27-year-old was examined by doctors in Riyadh and has was ruled out with sickness.Parker now faces Bakole, as the co-feature before Artur Beterbiev’s rematch with Dmitry Bivol.Dubois was deemed medically unfit to compete by doctors and so fast-rising star Bakole will take his place in the chief support slot.Most read in BoxingFull cardArtur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol – for the IBF, IBO, WBC and WBO light-heavyweight titlesJoseph Parker vs Martin Bakole for the interim WBO heavyweight titleShakur Stevenson vs Josh Padley – for the WBC lightweight titleCarlos Adames vs Hamzah Sheeraz – for the WBC middleweight titleVergil Ortiz Jr vs Israil Madrimov – for the interim WBC heavyweight titleZhilei Zhang vs Agit Kabayel – for the interim WBC heavyweight titleJoshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith – for the interim WBO light-heavyweight title More

BOXING history is littered in so-called ‘best card of all time’ shouts over the years. However, the card lined up for Saturday night in Riyadh will certainly rival anything that has ever been put together in boxing – despite two late changes.Dmitry Bivol blockbuster bout against Artur Beterbiev is being lablled ‘The Last Crescendo’Credit: GettyArtur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol’s rematch will headline the card.There was previously a co-main event between Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker for the heavyweight title – but Dubois has been forced to withdraw because of illness.Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole is now one of the chief supporting acts after the feared heavyweight stepped in at short notice.Beterbiev and Bivol bout is sparked from the pair’s initial fight in the Middle East last October, where the former won a narrow decision for the undisputed light-heavyweight titles.READ MORE IN BOXING Resurgent former world champion Parker on a five-match win streak will look to disrupt any supposed formalities.Martin Bakole took the fight on very short notice, only jetting into Riyadh for the fight against Parker on Friday morning.Dubois and Parker’s heavyweight title fight has been cancelledCredit: GettyFellow British fighters Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith will open up the night, as their meet-up presents crunch time for both. Buatsi is looking to deliver on the promise hailed on him since holding the British title in 2019.Most read in BoxingSmith has the opportunity to show he still deserves a place at the top of the sport after a couple of failed title shots.Meanwhile, pound-for-pound star Shakur Stevenson will now defend his WBC lightweight title against unbeaten Brit Josh Padley after Floyd Schofield was also forced to withdraw.When is Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole?Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole is set to take place on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol II, on Saturday, February 22.The card gets underway from 4pm GMT, with Parker and Bakole to fight before the main event at around 9pm GMT.The fight will take place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.SunSport will bring you all the action from EVERY fight with our live blogFull cardArtur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol – for the IBF, IBO, WBC and WBO light-heavyweight titlesJoseph Parker vs Martin BakoleShakur Stevenson vs Josh Padley – for the WBC lightweight titleCarlos Adames vs Hamzah Sheeraz – for the WBC middleweight titleVergil Ortiz Jr vs Israil Madrimov – for the interim WBC heavyweight titleZhilei Zhang vs Agit Kabayel – for the interim WBC heavyweight titleJoshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith – for the interim WBO light-heavyweight title More

THE riches of Riyadh have attracted some of the best on the planet to create what has been coined the “best boxing card of all time.”Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol headline the card while Joseph Parker will now face off against Martin Bakole after Daniel Dubois pulled out in the co-main event – and it’ll be for a huge purse too.Joseph Parker will still fight in Saudi Arabia despite Daniel Dubois’ withdrawalCredit: Richard Pelham/Getty ImagesMartin Bakole is stepping in to fight Joshua Parker in the biggest fight of his careerCredit: gettyDubois was set to fight Parker, however he pulled out due to illness, setting up the fight between Parker and Martin Bakole. Parker enters the fight with a 35-3-0 record and has only lost once since 2019 against Joe Joyce.It may play second fiddle to the Beterbiev and Bivol on the night, but nevertheless, both combatants stand to gain financially from the bout. What is the Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole fight purse?The fight purse for the fight has been reported as £2.05million ($2.6m).READ MORE IN BOXINGParker will get the lion’s share of the purse – £1.58m ($2m) – with Bakolie earning an estimated £475k ($600k).It is not clear what the fight purse for Dubois was set to be.According to reports, the winner of Beterbiev vs Bivol is expected to win over $20MILLION.According to his financial records, Parker has won substantial sums of money in his most recent bouts.Most read in BoxingMost significantly, he reportedly earned £8m from his victory over Joshua in 2018.When is Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole?Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole is set to take place on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol II, on Saturday, February 22.The card gets underway from 4pm GMT, with Dubois and Parker to fight before the main event at around 9pm GMT.The fight will take place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.SunSport will be offer all the action as it happens with our live blog.Full cardArtur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol – for the IBF, IBO, WBC and WBO light-heavyweight titlesJoseph Parker vs Martin BakoleShakur Stevenson vs Josh Padley – for the WBC lightweight titleCarlos Adames vs Hamzah Sheeraz – for the WBC middleweight titkeVergil Ortiz Jr vs Israil Madrimov – for the interim WBC heavyweight titleZhilei Zhang vs Agit Kabayel – for the interim WBC heavyweight titleJoshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith – for the interim WBO light-heavyweight title More