Heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois has shockingly withdrawn from his world-title defense against Joseph Parker just two days before their highly anticipated bout. The British fighter, 27, fell ill in Saudi Arabia and was deemed unfit to compete after medical assessments, forcing him to pull out of the Saturday showdown.
With Dubois sidelined, New Zealand’s Parker, 33, will now take on Martin Bakole, who has stepped in as a last-minute replacement.
“I hope Dubois recovers soon, but I’m still looking forward to putting on a great fight,” Parker said following the announcement.
Dubois, who boasts a 22-2 record, was set for his second IBF title defense after stopping Anthony Joshua in five rounds last September. Meanwhile, Parker, a former WBO world champion, was aiming to reclaim championship glory. Bakole, a heavy-hitting contender with 16 knockouts from 22 wins, will now look to seize the opportunity.
Despite the disappointment, the stacked fight card remains exciting, with the undisputed light-heavyweight clash between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol still headlining. British boxer Hamzah Sheeraz will also challenge Carlos Adames for the WBC middleweight title.
Dubois’ withdrawal is a major setback, but Parker vs. Bakole promises fireworks in what is still set to be an action-packed night of boxing!
