Parker stuns Bakole, while Bivol claims sweet revenge

Joseph Parker delivered a superb performance over the weekend, knocking out Martin Bakole in the second round of their fight at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This victory allowed Parker to retain his WBO Interim heavyweight title and strengthen his position as a top contender in the division.

Bakole stepped in as a last-minute replacement for Daniel Dubois, who fell ill just two days prior to the fight. Despite the short notice and arriving in Riyadh only hours before the bout, Bakole looked impressive as the fight began, initially landing a hard right hand that caught Parker off guard in the first round. 

For a moment, it seemed like Bakole was going to win the fight easily. However, Parker quickly regained control and demonstrated his boxing prowess.

In the second round, Parker landed a powerful right hand that sent Bakole to the canvas. Although Bakole attempted to rise using the ropes, the referee decided to stop the contest at 2:17 of the round after Bakole’s corner threw in the towel. 

This knockout not only extended Parker’s winning streak to six but also improved his professional record to 36 wins and 3 losses, with 24 of those victories coming by knockout. 

After the fight, Parker expressed gratitude towards Bakole for accepting the challenge while stressing his desire to fight for the world title next. “If Usyk wants a dance partner, I want to fight for a world title. I want to be champion of the world again,” he declared, indicating his ambition to reclaim championship status. 

In the co-main event, Dmitry Bivol avenged his previous loss to Artur Beterbiev by winning a majority decision in their eagerly awaited rematch. This victory crowned Bivol as the undisputed light-heavyweight champion, with all major titles, including the WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF belts, now in his possession. 

The rematch was closely contested, with both fighters exchanging jabs and power punches throughout. Bivol’s strategy proved effective as he increased his aggressiveness in the middle rounds. The judges scored the fight 116-112 and 115-113 in favor of Bivol, while one judge had it even at 114-114. 

Bivol’s triumph not only handed Beterbiev his first professional loss but also showed how much Bivol had improved since their previous encounter, where he felt he had been wronged by the judges. “I performed better. I pushed myself harder,” Bivol stated post-fight, proud of what he’d accomplished.