\n<\/p>\n
Bakole had been scheduled to face Nigerian contender Efe Ajaba in a final eliminator to face Dubois but will now take on 33-year-old former WBO champion Parker instead for what is expected to be a non-title contest.<\/p>\n
Shalom described doing so as “crazy” but suggested it was an example of his boxer’s willingness to “fight anyone”.<\/p>\n
“If you’re ever going to have a chance at beating Martin Bakole, it’s on two days’ notice,” he admitted. “But I still think he’s the favourite in the fight.<\/p>\n
“I think a 50% Martin Bakole beats both heavyweights. Fair play to Joseph Parker as well for taking Martin Bakole. Everyone knew we were going to put our name in the hat – we were pushing for it.”<\/p>\n
The partnership with Nelson, who previously worked with super-featherweight, lightweight and light-welterweight champion Ricky Burns, certainly appears to be bearing plenty of fruit, with Bakole quietly going about his business while some of the other names in the division have been taking the headlines.<\/p>\n
At 6ft 6in and weighing 280lbs, Bakole cuts a fearsome figure and has put together an impressive professional record of 21 wins \u2013 16 by way of knockout – with just one defeat.<\/p>\n
That loss came seven years ago and his undoubted pedigree is reflected by the fact he is comfortably well within the top five in the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO heavyweight rankings.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the 5 Live Boxing podcast, former world featherweight champion Barry Jones said of Parker: “It makes no sense why they would take the fight.<\/p>\n
“Bakole’s been avoided for a reason – because he’s big, powerful and skilful and also his engine’s improved dramatically since losing to Michael Hunter in 2018 – but not a massively sellable product.<\/p>\n
“It’s a difficult fight for Parker because he’s been training for a different kind of fighter.”<\/p>\n
Bakole has also sparred with Dubois and will hope a win over Parker will hasten a shot at the 27-year-old Briton – and his world title.<\/p>\n
On his social media profile on X, he describes himself as born to conquer \u2013 and a win over the New Zealander on Saturday would certainly be a big step in that direction and the desire, expressed in a newspaper interview a few years ago, to stage a world title fight in his adopted homeland.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n