Parker stops Bakole in Round Two to defend interim WBO Heavyweight Title

Joseph Parker successfully defended his interim WBO heavyweight title with an emphatic second-round stoppage of Martin Bakole in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.

Parker had initially been set to take on IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois, but a last-minute change saw 33-year-old Congolese fighter Bakole step in after Dubois withdrew on Thursday due to illness.

Bakole made a cautious start but gained momentum towards the end of the opening round, landing a strong shot that boosted his confidence.

However, his challenge was short-lived as Parker delivered a devastating right hook to the head in the second round, sending Bakole to the canvas and sealing a technical knockout victory.

This triumph positions Parker as the mandatory contender for the full WBO heavyweight title, currently held by Oleksandr Usyk.