The New Zealander is one of the world’s most in-form fighters right now. In the last 18 months, he has beaten Zhilei Zhang despite being put down twice, and has also beaten once fearsome American knockout artist Deontay Wilder, both on points.

Martin Bakole took a big risk by agreeing to step in for a sick Daniel Dubois to face Joseph Parker on 48 hours' notice. That risk did not pay off for Bakole as a glancing Parker right hand to the temple put Bakole down and forced the corner to halt the fight prior to the end of the second round of the co-main event on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev vs.

Joseph Parker just made quick work of Martin Bakole with a stunning second-round knockout to claim the WBO interim heavyweight world title at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.