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FANS have hailed Joseph Parker for his brilliant reaction to finding out he will fight Martin Bakole.The New Zealander was set to have a shot at the IBF world heavyweight title on a blockbuster Saturday night card in Riyadh.Joseph Parker has been praised for his brilliant reaction to finding out Daniel Dubois’ replacementCredit: IFL TVParker will come up against Martin Bakole on Saturday nightCredit: GettyBut opponent Daniel Dubois was forced to withdraw through illness just 48 hours before he was due in the ring.The Brit was deemed medically unfit to compete by doctors and 6ft 6in giant Bakole steps in as his replacement at late notice.Parker found out the news straight after his press conference last night, with his instant reaction captured by IFL TV.The 33-year-old smiled in excitement and shouted: “Ooooh, let’s go.”READ MORE IN BOXINGFans praised Parker’s willingness to take anybody on as one commented: “This is why everyone loves Joseph.”Another added: “Just shows what an absolute credit to the sport Parker is.”A third wrote: “A stone cold legend for taking on Bakole at two days notice.”Parker was relaxed about the situation, saying: “Listen, it is all part of boxing and part of the journey. One opportunity goes away, another one comes. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”I am fighting Martin Bakole who has been waiting for a big fight. Let’s get it on.”Bakole is the most avoided heavyweight, but I love to challenge myself.Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol come together before huge heavyweight showdown”We sat down with Turki [Alalshikh] and we welcomed anyone. “We have got Bakole, which is great. He is a beast, so let’s get ready.”Hopefully we can revisit this [Dubois] fight because I want to be champion of the world.”Bakole’s promoter Ben Shalom told DAZN: “He is 100 per cent into this fight, he wanted it, there was no standing in the way of this. “On Saturday night he wants to shock the world and he is coming to win. Trust me, Martin is ready to go.”This has come from him and him only, he wants this and is ready to go.”For me, Joseph Parker is the fittest heavyweight out there. So, over 12 rounds it could be tough with Martin coming in at two days’ notice.”But if Martin can pull this off he puts himself he announces himself at the very top of the division.READ MORE SUN STORIES”Everyone has taken a big risk in making this fight happen – Martin, Joseph, His Excellency – so everyone needs to take a lot of credit.”But it is a phenomenal fight and everyone should be very excited about it.” More

ZHILEI ZHANG has revealed he thought he was going to die after almost passing out in the dressing room.The Chinese heavyweight, 41, is set to fight Agit Kabayel on the Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 2 undercard in Saudi Arabia this Saturday.Zhilei Zhang has opened up on the time he almost diedCredit: GettyZhang was rushed to hospital following his fight with Jerry Forrest in 2021Credit: .Zhang has a record of 27-2-1 (wins-losses-draws) after beating Deontay Wilder in his last fight in June.But the 6ft 6in southpaw has opened up on when he felt like he was “dying” in his locker room.In 2021, Big Bang started better than his rival Jerry Forrest, decking him in rounds one, two, and three in Miami.However, plucky Forrest managed to power through the assault before the tables began to turn as Zhang’s stamina waned.READ MORE IN BOXINGWhen the final bell went, Zhang was spared the ignominy of defeat by slugging out a majority draw, with the other judge ruling in Forrest’s favour.Speaking about that fight, Zhang revealed that from round five he felt like his body was “cut off” and even blacked out before being rushed to hospital after his condition worsened in the dressing room.He told the Daily Mail: “In the locker room after the fight, I felt like I was dying. I didn’t know if my life would stop at that moment. That’s how serious it was.”But in the fifth round, I felt like my body was cut off. Something wasn’t right. In the last couple rounds, I didn’t know what happened. I lost my memory. I blacked out.Most read in Boxing”I really thought it was the end of not just my career but my life.”Then the doctors told me it was acute, which means it was reversible. I stayed in the hospital for four days. After that, my body felt normal again. Zhilei Zhang reveals shooting GUNS makes him a better boxer”I told my team, in a Chinese phrase, ‘This is putting the tiger back in the wild’.”Zhang’s team called an ambulance following the fight, with an unnerving diagnosis to follow; acute kidney failure and dangerously high liver function levels.That fight changed the way Zhang looked at nutrition.He said: “I ate what I wanted, I drank what I wanted. There was no plan.”After that fight, I hired a nutritionist. I started following a real diet. Now, I feel better than ever.”The year of that fight also saw Zhang experience the “lowest moment” of his life and he pondered quitting boxing, though it was a decision which had nothing to do with fighting.Zhang had returned to China in 2021 to attend his mother’s funeral but had ended up being stuck in limbo after finding out his US visa had been put on hold.It led to him being stuck in China for six months and unsure if he would ever return.He said: “I had just lost my mother, and now I was stuck, unable to be with my family, unable to continue my career.”That was the closest I ever came to quitting. I was ready to tell my team, sell my car, get rid of my house. I can’t come back.”That was the lowest moment of my life.”Then by some stroke of luck, his visa application finally came through.He said: “I was ready to put a tag on my car at the dealer. Then I got the call. I told my team, get my car back— I’m coming back.”READ MORE SUN STORIESZhang has the chance to win the interim WBC heavyweight title tomorrow.He previously held the interim WBO heavyweight title from 2023 to 24.Beterbiev vs Bivol 2: Start time, TV channel, full card – everything you need to know for MASSIVE Saudi rematch More

BEN SHALOM reckons drafting in Martin Bakole as a late replacement for Daniel Dubois against Joseph Parker is the “most ridiculous deal ever made.”Boxing fans were left stunned on Thursday when it emerged Dubois was too ill to fight this weekend.Martin Bakole’s mad dash to Saudi has been described as the ‘most ridiculous deal ever’Credit: GettyBakole has stepped in for Daniel Dubois, who is too ill to fightCredit: GettyThe heavyweight champ was looking to defend his IBF heavyweight world title against Parker, having triumphed over Anthony Joshua in his last match.But Dubois was ruled out of the crunch battle with illness.And Congolese star Bakole will instead fight Parker as the co-feature before Artur Beterbiev’s rematch with Dmitry Bivol.Bakole was in the Congo when he got the call from Saudi Arabia and accepted immediately.READ MORE IN BOXINGHe is now travelling the 3000-mile, seven-hour journey by plane to Riyadh.And it means fans can breathe easy knowing they will not be denied a top clash at Saturday’s event.Now, boxing promoter Shalom has lifted the lid on how quickly the deal was sorted.He claims he messaged Bakole’s team while Dubois’ absence was being confirmed at a press conference.Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSAnd Shalom revealed the boxer jumped at the opportunity, with contract terms agreed at lightning speed.Indeed, the promoter reckons it’s the “most ridiculous deal ever made”, with Bakole jumping in at just 48 hours’ notice and risking a second defeat on his incredible 22-1 professional record.Shakur Stevenson reacts to Floyd Schofield Jr pulling out of fight and Josh Padley replacing him Bakole will take on Joshua Parker on SaturdayCredit: GettyPromoter Ben Shalom has lifted the lid on the speed of the dealCredit: GettyShalom said: “This is the most ridiculous deal I’ve ever done. You know we like to do things, take our time.“Daniel got injured. I saw the tweet like everyone did from The Ring magazine. I actually thought ‘that’s not true’. I thought it was a stunt.“And then I was speaking to Martin’s team while I was at the press conference, while it was going on, and saying, ‘Would we take this fight?’“They’re like, ‘100 per cent we are in’. So I texted saying, ‘We’re in, we want this fight, if there’s an opportunity this is the only fight to make’.This is the most ridiculous deal I’ve ever done. You know we like to do things, take our time.Ben Shalom“A bit of back-and-forth, by then I’d forgotten there’s a press conference going on. I’ve come off, walked, done a few laps.“I’m on the phone, we got a deal done very, very quickly, no messing around. Martin want it, gets on a flight ready to go.“There’s still a lot of work to do, the medicals and all sorts but it’s happening and we’re going to get him here.READ MORE SUN STORIES“It’s unbelievable and he deserves a huge amount of credit because no other heavyweight on planet Erath would operate like this, two days knowing he has Joseph Parker.“Martin got a call two hours ago, in the Congo… he’ll probably finish his meal and then he’ll come and that’s what he’s about.” More