Bakole had garnered the label of "the boogeyman of the heavyweight division," with his power, size and ability to walk down opponents leading to trouble finding opponents. To Parker's credit, he jumped at the chance to face Bakole after Dubois pulled out of the bout, taking the IBF heavyweight title with him.

Joseph Parker stopped Martin Bakole in round two of their Riyadh bout to retain his interim WBO heavyweight title.

Joseph Parker made quick work of Martin Bakole in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to retain his WBO Interim Heavyweight Title.