Parker reacts to Dubois fight collapse: 'He did the right thing'

Joseph Parker only found out his fight with Daniel Dubois was at risk on his way to Thursday’s press conference.

Shortly after the press conference had finished, he had a new opponent. It was a change of circumstance that took place at dizzying speed.

Dubois did not attend the press event and it emerged that he had fallen sick.

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Fighters hadn't even managed to leave the dais when it was revealed that Parker would now box dangerous heavyweight Martin Bakole instead, who would fly in at short notice from the Congo for Saturday's heavyweight clash on the Sky Sports Box Office bill.

Parker won't get to challenge for the IBF world championship held by Dubois, although the WBO Interim championship will be on the line, making the winner the mandatory challenger for the WBO heavyweight title held by unified champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Parker wasn't bitter at the sudden twist of fate.

Speaking to Sky Sports at his final training session at 2am in Riyadh, Parker commended Dubois for his decision.

"He did a sensible thing. If you're sick don't fight," Parker said.

The New Zealander has fought through illness before, losing to Joe Joyce when he was under the weather. That is a choice he regrets.

"I didn't do the most sensible thing," Parker told Sky Sports. "I was sick. The me now, if I'm sick I won't fight. He [Dubois] did the right thing.

"There's no point going out there and fighting you're heart out and you're not in the right physical shape. Go out there and fight when you're at peak, top shape, top condition, and put on your best performance. Put your best foot forward and the one that everyone will remember. Not the one that everyone remembers [against Joyce with] me being sick."

He didn't hesitate to box Bakole, who has a reputation as an avoided man in the division.

"That was a surprise to me, but I've said before - we'll fight anyone," he reflected on the Bakole offer.

"Anyone. We've worked so hard. Myself and the team have put in so much work and we're here in Saudi Arabia and we're ready to fight.

"I want to thank Martin for putting up his hand, he's a tough fighter."

He insists the new circumstances won't unsettle him.

"Still enjoying it now," Parker said. "The mental side's already there.

"No time to sulk, no time to relax. Get in our work," he added.

"The show goes on. It's not even just in boxing, but in life, things happen. You just have to adjust and adapt to the situation and it's business as usual."

A timeline: How a huge fight was made in barely three hours

• Shortly after 5pm GMT on Thursday it was announced Daniel Dubois was being evaluated by a doctor after falling ill.
• At 6pm, the press conference for Saturday's event began with Dubois not in attendance.
• During the press conference, Joseph Parker confirmed he would definitely fight, whether against Dubois or a new opponent.
• Dubois' promoter Frank Warren refused to rule Dubois out, preferring to wait until Friday for a final decision.
• Bakole's promoter Ben Shalom insisted Martin Bakole was "ready to go" if Dubois was ruled out and was negotiating throughout the press conference.
• At around 7.30pm GMT, Ring Magazine announced Bakole as the replacement opponent
• Shortly after 8pm, Shalom told Sky Sports: "The fight's done."

What to expect from 'throwback' Bakole? | 'The most avoided man in heavywight boxing'

Former middlewight champion boxer Matthew Macklin, speaking to Sky Sports:

"I think it's fair to say [Bakole] is the most avoided man in the heavyweight division. His opportunity was probably going to come via something like this.

"He's a difficult fight for anyone. A massive man, very strong, he comes forward, doesn't load up, a very relaxed style... Joseph Parker will be well aware of just how dangerous Bakole is.

"But in Parker, you've got a guy who's coming off back-to-back with wins against Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang, who were people who you don't necessarily pick as a voluntary. Parker has proven he will fight anyone."

Former professional boxer Dave Coldwell, on Sky Sports:

"The emotions as a fan that Dubois is out, you're sad. But then for the replacement to be Bakole, a man that nobody wants to fight, it's incredible.

"If you're Joseph Parker, you're experienced, you know the game, you know Bakole and you know you can't afford to sulk, because you know you're up against a real threat - the man nobody wants to fight. He's relentless, he's going to be firing shots to the body, he's got a snappy jab; he's not slow and cumbersome.

"He's one of these throwback kind of fighters. If you go back 20-30 years ago, there are these fighters that don't need six, eight, 10 weeks for a camp. There are fighters that just spar all the time."

The Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol rematch will be live on Saturday February 22 on Sky Sports Box Office. Book now!