But when Daniel Dubois was pulled out of his IBF heavyweight world title defence by the British Boxing Board of Control, after being struck down with a virus, Bakole got the unlikely call to face the dateless Kiwi.
JOSEPH PARKER rewarded Martin Bakole for his super-sub antics with a two-round pasting for racing across Africa to save his show.
Bakole’s chief support slot was so hastily arranged that he had to wear Dubois’ personalised gloves, complete with ‘DDD’ logo etched in white across the black knuckles.
Up against a former WBO world champion, an 18-hour trip, via Dubai on Ethiopia Airlines, jet lag and a serious lack of sleep, Bakole couldn’t afford to waste energy.
And he looked like he was on a hiding to nothing when he landed a big right hand on Bakole’s beard and he theatrically shook it off.
