RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Joseph Parker weighed in at a career-heaviest 267 pounds on Friday while his new opponent Martin Bakole was still on his way to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Bakole was called up to replace IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois, who is ill, on Thursday.
The 33-year-old (21-1, 16 KOs) was still travelling to Saudi Arabia from his home in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – a journey of more than 2,000 miles – while Parker (35-3, 25 KOs) hit the scales.
Parker’s previous heaviest weight was 255 pounds against Joe Joyce in 2022, a fight he lost by knockout.
While Dubois’ withdrawal put the brakes on the chance to fight for the heavyweight title for Parker, the WBO interim title, which the New Zealander holds, will be on the line against Bakole.
Artur Beterbiev will face Dmitry Bivol in an undisputed light heavyweight title rematch in the main event on Saturday night.
Beterbiev, the WBA,WBO, WBC and IBF champion, weighed in at 175 pounds, while Bivol tipped the scales at 174.1 pounds.
Source: espn.com