Joseph Parker successfully defended his interim WBO heavyweight title with an emphatic second-round stoppage of Martin Bakole in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.
Parker had initially been set to take on IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois, but a last-minute change saw 33-year-old Congolese fighter Bakole step in after Dubois withdrew on Thursday due to illness.
Bakole made a cautious start but gained momentum towards the end of the opening round, landing a strong shot that boosted his confidence.
However, his challenge was short-lived as Parker delivered a devastating right hook to the head in the second round, sending Bakole to the canvas and sealing a technical knockout victory.
This triumph positions Parker as the mandatory contender for the full WBO heavyweight title, currently held by Oleksandr Usyk.
