‘He did a sensible thing’: Parker doesn’t blame Dubois for pulling out of fight

Joseph Parker says Daniel Dubois did the right thing by withdrawing from their fight this weekend.

This weekend’s card in Riyadh has had a lot of shake ups to the card during this fight week, and while some aren’t exactly buying into certain claims of illness, Joseph Parker isn’t taking that approach with respect to Daniel Dubois, whom he was supposed to challenge for the IBF heavyweight title tomorrow.

Parker tells Sky Sports that Daniel Dubois withdrawing from the fight was a reasonable thing to do and says he would do the same at this point in his career after he went through with a fight against Joe Joyce while sick, which he lost by late stoppage.

“He did a sensible thing. If you’re sick don’t fight,” Parker said. “I didn’t do the most sensible thing,” Parker told Sky Sports. “I was sick. The me now, if I’m sick I won’t fight. He [Dubois] did the right thing.”

In his place Parker will now take on Martin Bakole, many of whom consider to be a dangerous and avoided fighter, and he’s doing so on last minute’s notice where we’ve things go awry for the fighter who has to adjust for a completely different beast.

Parker, however, believes it’s just a testament to his character and willingness to truly fight anyone, especially after putting in a full training camp. On the other hand Bakole will be coming into this fight without the benefit of a formal camp for this fight, so what he’ll have to offer inside the ring on fight night tomorrow is a bit unclear.