The 2025 boxing calendar is shaping as much as be one other thrilling one for followers, and very like final 12 months (2024), the heavyweight division is anticipated to dominate the headlines and airwaves as soon as once more. This text will discover the not too long ago introduced Parker vs. Bakole matchup.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have been on the centre of consideration final 12 months, however Londoner Daniel Dubois additionally made his mark because the ‘better of the remaining’ with a collection of stellar performances. The 27-year-old, 6-foot-5 powerhouse was initially scheduled to characteristic on the stacked Feb. 22 Riyadh Season card. Nonetheless, following the cancellation of Shakur Stevenson vs. Floyd Schofield, one other main shake-up has occurred—Dubois vs. Parker is now off, with Joseph Parker set to face Martin Bakole as a substitute.
Parker vs Bakole Kicks off 2025 Heavyweight Motion
Dubois Sickness Results in Parker vs Bakole
For these battle followers who’re into martial arts movies and legendary fighter video games, then Dragon Fist Fury is perhaps your go-to sport. It’s an all-time favorite slot sport for anybody considering fight sports activities and the artwork of hand-to-hand fight. With historical temples, mystical dragons, and fearless fighters, gamers can set off free spins and multipliers by touchdown key fight symbols. If Dubois continues his rise, he might effectively be a reputation that options in future editions and even has his personal franchise named after him.
2025 was set to start with Dubois defending his IBF heavyweight title earlier than an sickness left “Dynamite” unable to maneuver ahead together with his scheduled world title defence.
On Saturday, following this last-minute drama, fearsome Congolese heavyweight Martin Bakole is stepping up on brief discover to hitch the stacked card in Riyadh on Feb. 22.
Learn Extra: 5 Heavyweight Fighters to Watch in 2025
It appears logical that the winner of Bakole vs Parker will face Dubois as soon as he’s recovered. That can all develop into obvious in time however earlier than then, Parker must beat some of the prevented heavyweights on the planet.
It might be a late night time for boxing followers in the UK, as Joshua Buatsi v Callum Smith are set to kick off the primary card at 16.45, and it’s anticipated that Zhilei Zhang vs Agit Kabayel will observe at 17:40. Following these two can be Vergil Ortiz Jr vs Israil Madrimov and Carlos Adames vs Hamzah Sheeraz earlier than Shakur Stevenson vs Josh Padley proceeds Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole. Bivol and Beterbiev are anticipated to have their battle up and operating at round 23.00.
Parker vs Bakole
Bakole confirmed how harmful he’s in his final battle as he dismantled and stopped Jared Anderson within the fifth spherical of their conflict on the Terence Crawford vs Israil Madrimov undercard.
Parker has a wonderful chin as ably demonstrated by the actual fact he has solely been stopped as soon as – by Joyce after a gruelling eleven-round encounter. He additionally strikes his head effectively and is an completed counterpuncher and he’ll want all these attributes to beat the ‘man mountain’ Bakole.
Learn Extra: Anthony Joshua vs Martin Bakole: Rival Promoter Says ‘Eddie Doesn’t Need It’
With each fighters additionally coming into the bout in good type, the largest query for a lot of going into the weekend is solely whether or not or not Bakole is able to stopping somebody as skilled as Parker.
Parker vs Bakole might be the beginning of some very memorable and telling heavyweight clashes for the rest of the 12 months.
