DANIEL DUBOIS lost his mega-money world title defence against Joseph Parker — after picking up a viral infection following a late-night Saudi dinner. The IBF heavyweight king had to attend a Wednesday night meeting with 11 of the other main fighters here on the Riyadh card.
![[Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker face off at a press conference.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/l-goes-head-head-joseph-963534577_3c4548.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The rivals sat just yards apart and Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren fumed: “He is p****d off. "It was a big fight and he has trained very hard and if you don’t fight, you don’t get paid. “Imagine the cost involved in the training camp, booking places to set the camp up, sparring partners, nutritionists, chefs, trainers and you don’t get paid.
![[Daniel Dubois training for his IBF World Heavyweight Title fight.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/daniel-dubois-trains-ahead-ibf-973500910_d85e4f.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
"It’s a massive loss.”. The tense get-together had finished at around 1am and Dubois, 27, woke up the next morning with swollen glands and needing medical attention. Warren added: “It was an unbelievable purse that he was getting paid for the fight.
![[Frank Warren giving a thumbs up at a press conference.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/english-boxing-promoter-frank-warren-973613518.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
"But if you’re not well, you can’t fight.”. Promoters salvaged a fight for Parker tonight — on the undercard to Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 2 — by drafting in Martin Bakole to battle the New Zealander. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS. Beterbiev vs Bivol 2: Start time, TV channel, full card - everything you need to know for MASSIVE Saudi rematch.
Dubois spent yesterday desperately trying to get a last-minute flight out of the country to recover in his own home, while Bakole jetted in from the Congo to take his place. And the Scotland-based slugger is confident of pulling up an almighty upset against the former IBO heavyweight king Parker.
![[Boxer Martin Bakole (in tartan shorts) throwing a punch at his opponent.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/white-blue-shorts-martin-bakole-973621055.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
