Flight then fight – travelling Bakole misses weigh-in

Sheeraz v. Adames undercard featuring Artur Beterbiev v. Dmitry Bivol

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Date: Saturday, 22 February

Martin Bakole, who had just arrived from Saudi Arabia, was only 24 hours away from the weigh-in for his heavyweight fight with Joseph Parker.

After Britain’s world heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois withdrew from the contest on Thursday due to illness, the 33-year-old was given two days’ notice.

Travelling from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bakole was in the air at the time of Friday’s weigh-in, and is expected to land in Riyadh no earlier than 02: 00 local time on Saturday.

Undisputed light-heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev (12st 7lb) and Dmitry Bivol (12st 6lb) both successfully weighed in for their much-anticipated rematch.

Russian Beterbiev has won all 21 pro fights with 20 knockouts. The 40-year-old expects the rematch to be even better after a thrilling fight that lived up to the hype four months ago.

When he received a call offering him the chance to succeed Dubois, Congolese Bakole, who now lives in Scotland, was in Kinshasa, the country’s capital, overseeing the construction of a new home.

Within an hour, terms were reached, and Bakole boarded a flight to Ethiopia where he made a connecting flight early on Friday. In an Instagram post uploaded from the airport, he promised to “shock the world”.

In his absence at the weigh-in – where Bakole’s weight does not matter as he is a heavyweight – Parker faced off with his own promoter, Frank Warren, who jokingly shoved the New Zealander, 33.

“I wanted this fight”, added former world champion Parker. Martin Bakole is next, and I wanted it because I wanted to challenge myself. Bring him on.

” There’s a few changes we worked on last night, spoken about it today and it’s all going to come together tomorrow. “

For their world title fight, WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames (11st 4lb) and Briton Hamzah Sheeraz (11st 5lb) made weight.

At 6ft 2in, the wiry Sheeraz, 25, towered over his 30-year-old opponent at the head-to head.

Dominican Adames cut a confident figure, though, and dismissed his rival’s physical advantages.

” Coconuts are high and we can still take them down, so I’ll do the same to him, “said Adames.

Earlier, part-time electrician Josh Padley – who also accepted late call-up to fight WBC lightweight world champion Shakur Stevenson on just a few days ‘ notice – promised he would grab the opportunity” with both hands”.

Doncaster’s Padley and American Stevenson weighed in a pound under the 9st 9lb limit.

In Saturday’s opening bout, British rivals Callum Smith (12st 7lb) and Joshua Buatsi (12st 6lb) will be hoping to push their claim for a light-heavyweight title shot against the winner of Beterbiev-Bivol.