Dubois Out; Bakole to Face Parker in Riyadh

IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois has withdrawn from his title defense against Joseph Parker due to illness, prompting a last-minute replacement of Congolese fighter Martin Bakole. The fight, which was to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was initially scheduled as a co-feature to the Artur Beterbiev versus Dmitry Bivol rematch. Dubois was diagnosed after a medical examination, leading to his absence from the final press conference and subsequent pullout. This marks another setback for the event, as Floyd Schofield also withdrew from his fight on the same card due to illness, with his father alleging poisoning. Parker, expressing readiness, will still compete, now facing Bakole, who has been called one of the most-avoided boxers in the division. The event is seen as one of the most significant boxing cards, despite the disruptions.