Bakole was drafted in to fight Joseph Parker in the joint main event, jumped on two planes, arrived less than 24 hours before the first bell, lost in the second round, jumped back on a plane, and is still fighting in New York on 2 May – it is one of boxing’s most absurd tales.
The American Vergil Ortiz Jr beat Israil Madrimov over 12 quality rounds; it was not as wide as the scores, but it was a perfect fight for Ortiz, who moved to 23-0, with 21 KOs.
Stevenson remains unbeaten, a world champion at three weights and still in search of a defining fight; Padley will be back this week at the job he left unfinished last week.
Josh Padley is a full-time electrician from just outside Doncaster and he accepted an offer to fight Shakur Stevenson for the WBC lightweight title last Tuesday.
The fight was for the WBC interim heavyweight title; Oleksandr Usyk, the full WBC champion, was ringside and is in no hurry to reveal his plans.
