Boxing
Joseph Parker worked lightly Martin Bakole in Riyadh, what will happen next is uncertain
Published
1 year agoon
Despite the rapid flattening of the hazardous pretender Martin Bakole, Joseph Parker can still miss the fight for the title of champion.
Bakole entered only two days of notifications of a plot in the fight for ponderous titles and came to Saudi Arabia from the Democratic Republic of Congo after the disappearance of Friday weighing.
Parker (36-3, 23 KO) was to challenge Daniel Dubois for the title of World IBF, but instead he blew up the bacols (21-2, 16 KO) in two rounds. Bakole could have been a overdue replacement and was too ponderous, but it was still the impressive performance of Parker.
It is certainly arduous to predict what the next six or seven months looks like, but the withdrawal of Dubois has changed all plans for promoters, managers and Saudi payers.
Instead of re -facing Parker, after withdrawing from the defense of the world title compared to the Recent Zealander with a viral infection during the fight week, IBF Dubois champion will probably face Oleksandr Usyk in the unquestionable fight for the world championship title.
For Parker, his best option seems to be a rematch with former champion Anthony Joshua – but it depends on Parker’s friend, Tyson Fury, and not a return to Joshu this summer.
“I want to fight for the world championship title and become the world champion again,” said Parker later. “I will fight with everyone and everyone.”
When Joshua returns in the summer, he and the rest of the box hopes that it would be against his long -time rival Fury, who announced his pension after the defeat of Utyk. The former WBC World Heavyweight champion will receive an offer this week to face Joshua, probably at the Wembley stadium, and Fury will not decide for a long time whether he is really finished with this sport.
Promoters have tried to match Fury and Joshua for the last five years, and this will be the last attempt to realize the fight.
But if the Fury remains retired, another Joshua fight can be against someone who trains at the same gym as the Fury: Parker.
Parker from Auckland in Recent Zealand constantly rebuilt his career after losing in round 11 with Joe Joyce in September 2022. The 33-year-old registered six consecutive wins, including winning in Deontay Wilder and most points win over Zhilei Zhang in March last year. While Joshua, Fury and Wilder saw their performances fall in the standards, Parker is in the best form of his life and better than in his first rule as a master, as he showed in the absolute shipping of Bakole.
Fighting Joshua, even if there is no world title on the line, will have a huge charm for Parker. When he faced Joshua under the roof at the Principality stadium at Cardiff in Wales, he was in the best state. That night he lost the WBO belt from Joshua, but became the first person to take Joshua to points as a professional.
Like the speed and movement of Parker, they denied Joshua’s openings in 2018, so once again he will want to refuse Joshui a chance to unload his blows.
Parker has previously refused Joshua Ko and he will be sure he did it again. Together with Dubois, another warrior who could share the ring from Usyk, who was in Riyadh on Saturday, is Agit Kabayel, who recovered from Terrunia in round 5 to stop Zhilei Zhang with the body of a shot in round 6 for Fringe WBC Tineim Tineim heavyweight title.
While Kayabel does not look like a stern threat to Uyka, because he lacks shock, he can still be a man who will face world 1 in his last fight at the end of 2025. Kabayel (26-0.18 KO), 32, with German, he was under pressure at an early stage of a 41-year-old Chinese warrior who is based in Recent Jersey, but his work rate began Blow Zhang (27-3-1, 22 KO).
Zhang dropped such as Wilder, Parker and Joyce, so there was no shame in Kabayel coming from a compact left hook. Then he quickly recovered and gathered a quick response to stop the tiring Zhang with a combination of the body.
You may like
Boxing
Johnny Fisher Signs with Zuffa Boxing for September 26 London Main Event
Published
4 hours agoon
July 13, 2026

The agreement gives the 27-year-old Romford fighter a fresh platform following a turbulent spell that included the first defeat of his professional career. Rather than ease back into competition, Fisher will immediately top the bill at ZUFFA BOXING 11 as the promotion continues to strengthen its heavyweight roster.
“The most exciting chapter of my professional career begins,” Fisher said. “Thank you to Dana White, Nick Khan, and the Zuffa Boxing team for this opportunity. Everything has led to this point. Bull Army, get ready to assemble. Bosh!”
Fisher earned widespread attention during his rise through the domestic heavyweight scene with an aggressive style that produced 12 knockouts from 14 victories. His latest outing saw him stop previously unbeaten Ivan Balaz in four rounds, restoring momentum after his rematch defeat to Dave Allen.
The Copper Box Arena has become a familiar venue for Fisher. September’s event will mark his third appearance there, giving him another opportunity to perform in front of a London crowd while beginning life with a new promoter.
The signing also represents another step in Zuffa Boxing’s expansion. After entering professional boxing under the leadership of Dana White and Nick Khan, the company has continued adding recognizable names, and Fisher becomes one of its most prominent British heavyweights.
An opponent has yet to be confirmed for the September 26 main event, with additional bouts expected to be announced as the card takes shape.
For Fisher, the move offers more than a change of promoter. It places him at the front of a growing platform and gives him the chance to rebuild his standing in the heavyweight division with a successful debut under the Zuffa Boxing banner.

Olly Campbell is a boxing journalist who has covered the sport since 2014, providing ringside reporting and technical analysis of major bouts. His work focuses on fighter tendencies, tactical adjustments, and the details that shape high-level competition.
Boxing
Oleksandr Usyk Has Left the Sport of Boxing, Says Hall of Famer
Published
5 hours agoon
July 13, 2026
Oleksandr Usyk has vacated his three heavyweight world titles but will not retire, promising at least one more professional outing before he hangs up the gloves, but in the eyes of one Hall of Famer, the Ukrainian has already ‘left the sport’.
Usyk struggled to overcome Rico Verhoeven back in Maywith a late and controversial stoppage sparing his blushes and denying boxing of one of it’s greatest ever upsets, leading to many saying that the ability of the 39-year-old fan-favourite has perhaps declined.
Following the fight, Usyk decided to vacate his WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight marbles, with Murat Gassiev and Agit Kabayel being elevated to full world champions, whilst Frank Sanchez is expected to face either Moses Itauma or Bakhodir Jalolov for the vacant IBF strap.
Speaking on the Inside The Ring showformer two-division world champion and Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Tim Bradley said he believes Usyk has moved beyond the “sport” of boxing and into the “business” of boxing by choosing to relinquish his titles.
“I think that the Rico Verhoeven fight was an eye-opener for him to be honest with you. He struggled with him right, but then he was able to pull it off at the end.
“Relinquishing the titles, for me, you see the white smoke. He is done. He has left the sport of boxing, he is going to fight [again] but he has left the sport of boxing, he is in the business of boxing now.”
Usyk is currently being linked to a showdown with Deontay Wilder for what would presumably be his career finalealthough it remains to be seen whether a solid performance next time out could convince him to postpone his planned retirement.
Boxing
Exclusive Insights: Moses Itaumas Frightening Sparring Sessions with Tyson Fury Revealed
Published
6 hours agoon
July 13, 2026
Tipped for the top, Moses Itauma is already being compared to some of Britain’s best heavyweights, and now details regarding his sparring sessions with two-time world champion Tyson Fury have been revealed.
Whilst yet to defeat an elite heavyweight or claim world honours, many British fight fans believe that 21-year-old Moses Itauma is the United Kingdom’s standout heavyweight and that a long, dominant reign is around the corner for the Kent-based sensation.
Next month, Itauma will hope to tee up a world title bid by scoring a career-best win over Filip Hrgovicwell-poised to challenge for all four of the heavyweight marbles and in the privileged position to select his own preferred route to the throne.
It is not only the fans who are appreciative of Itauma’s talent, with boxing manager Spencer Brown telling Playbook Boxing that Tyson Fury recognised the skill of the youngster after their ‘frightening’ sparring sessions in 2024.
“Him and Tyson, when they were in camp together, when Tyson was fighting [Oleksandr] Usyk, they had a great bond and him and Tyson sat and talked about boxing and what he has to do, what he hasn’t. He gave him all of the experience in the world.”
“It [the sparring] was unbelievable, it was frightening but it was great. They bumped each other and they just went at it. I think at one stage Moses went to get out of the ring and Tyson said ‘nah, we have only done six, we are going to eight now,’ and he went ‘oh, alright’ and they went at it again.
“With Tyson, he just wants to help people. He can see what this kid is, you have only got to ask Tyson, he knows what this kid is and anybody in boxing knows what this kid is.”
At that stage, Fury was the reigning WBC heavyweight champion and heading into an undisputed showdown with Usyk.
As for Itauma, his clash with Hrgovic takes place at the O2 Arena on Saturday, August 29as the youngster seeks yet another authoritative display that once again captures the attention of the boxing universe.
Conor McGregor’s UFC 329 injury sparks Sean Strickland’s steroid theory
UFC thought Shakur Stevenson was an NBA player; Dana White had thoughts
Tom Aspinall says he’s ready to fight, waiting on UFC return date
Trending
-
MMA2 days agoUFC 329 video: Robert Whittaker potentially breaks Nikita Krylov’s jaw in light heavyweight debut
-
MMA2 days agoUFC 329 live blog: King Green vs. Terrance McKinney
-
MMA2 days agoGable Steveson is causing heavyweights to count their days with UFC debut, per Bryan Battle pre-UFC 329
-
Boxing2 days agoTim Bradley Predicts High Rate of PPV Piracy for Rolly Romero vs Teofimo Lopez Fight
-
Boxing1 day agoTerence Crawford Sends Cryptic Message Following Conor McGregors UFC 329 Defeat
-
Boxing1 day agoDana White Outraged After UFC Broadcast Confuses Shakur Stevenson with NBA Player
-
Boxing2 days agoIsaac Pitbull Cruz Set to Battle Néstor Bravo on September 19 in the U.S.
-
MMA2 days agoUFC 329: Live updates, highlights for McGregor vs. Holloway 2


