Joseph Parker delivered a dominant performance, stopping Martin Bakole in the second round of their heavyweight contest in Riyadh. Originally set to face Daniel Dubois for the IBF world heavyweight title, Parker had to adjust quickly when Dubois withdrew due to illness. Bakole, stepping in at the last minute, arrived in Riyadh only hours before the fight, leaving him at a significant disadvantage.
Despite the short notice, Bakole entered the ring with confidence, wearing tartan trunks and clashing his gloves together as he was introduced. Parker, wearing a bright red tunic, maintained a calm demeanor, appearing unshaken by the change of opponent. At the opening bell, Parker wasted no time, landing early jabs to Bakole’s midsection. Bakole remained stationary in the center of the ring while Parker moved and feinted, carefully gauging his opponent’s power. The first real threat from Bakole came at the end of the round, but his punch missed the mark.
As the second round began, Bakole attempted to apply more pressure, but Parker seized the moment, landing a clean right hand that stopped him in his tracks. A second powerful right hand followed, causing Bakole to stagger as he tried to regain his composure. Though he attempted to fight back, an overhand right from Parker landed flush, sending Bakole down in delayed fashion. He ultimately collapsed onto the canvas, clearly dazed. Though he managed to sit up and use the ropes to get back on his feet, the referee wisely called a halt to the fight.
Parker’s victory was as decisive as it was brutal, showcasing his class, power, and ability to adapt to unexpected circumstances. He expressed gratitude to Bakole for stepping in at short notice and credited his trainer, Andy Lee, for providing the strategy that led to the knockout. With this win, Parker now looks ahead to his rescheduled world title bout against Dubois.
Earlier on the card, Callum Smith secured a hard-fought points victory over Joshua Buatsi in a grueling all-British light-heavyweight showdown. The contest saw both men exchanging heavy blows, with Buatsi rallying in the later rounds despite Smith’s early dominance. Smith was pushed to his limits but landed the more effective punches, ultimately winning a well-earned decision.
Agit Kabayel claimed a significant victory over Chinese veteran Zhilei Zhang, displaying superior movement and bodywork. Zhang, now 41, managed to score a knockdown in the fifth round, but Kabayel remained composed. By the sixth, he had worn Zhang down with relentless body shots, eventually forcing his opponent to the canvas for a stoppage win.
Vergil Ortiz Jr emerged victorious in his super-welterweight clash with Israil Madrimov. Despite Madrimov’s aggressive start, Ortiz controlled the fight with measured bursts of offense. Madrimov received multiple warnings for excessive use of his head, but Ortiz’s cleaner work ensured a unanimous decision victory.
Hamzah Sheeraz faced the toughest test of his career against WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames. Sheeraz started strong but struggled as Adames increased the tempo, landing punishing shots to both the head and body. Though Sheeraz showed resilience, the champion appeared to have done enough to win. However, the official decision was controversial, with one judge ruling in Sheeraz’s favor and another scoring the fight a draw. Despite retaining his title, Adames expressed his frustration with the outcome.
In a late replacement bout, part-time electrician Josh Padley took on WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson. Padley, who was still working on a construction site days before the fight, put in a valiant effort but was ultimately outclassed. Stevenson knocked him down three times in the ninth round before Padley’s corner sensibly threw in the towel.
The event in Riyadh featured dramatic knockouts, contentious decisions, and standout performances, setting the stage for major fights in the months ahead.
