Sat Feb 22 18:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Heavyweight Showdown Reshaped: Bakole Replaces Ill Dubois Against Parker in Riyadh

**RIYADH, Saudi Arabia** – A last-minute shakeup has rocked the heavyweight division ahead of Saturday’s boxing extravaganza in Riyadh. IBF champion Daniel Dubois has withdrawn from his fight against Joseph Parker due to illness, forcing a dramatic replacement with Martin Bakole.

Parker, who weighed in at a career-high 267 pounds, remained unfazed by the change. He expressed his readiness to face Bakole, a late call-up who was still en route from the Democratic Republic of Congo at the time of the weigh-in. While the world title fight is off, Parker will now defend his WBO interim title against Bakole.

“Going from one big puncher to the next big puncher,” Parker commented, highlighting the unchanged nature of the challenge. He expressed satisfaction with the opportunity to remain on the card.

Bakole’s journey to Riyadh represents a significant logistical hurdle, having traveled over 2,000 miles to replace the ill Dubois. The main event, however, remains intact, with Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol set to clash in an undisputed light heavyweight title rematch. Beterbiev weighed in at 175 pounds, and Bivol at 174.1 pounds.

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