Liam Napier: NZ Herald sports writer on Joseph Parker's second-round knockout of Martin Bakole

Boxer Joseph Parker has put the heavyweight division's champions on notice after a second-round knockout of Martin Bakole in Riyadh.

The Kiwi was set to challenge IBF champion Daniel Dubois but the Brit withdrew from the bout due to being sick, leading to Bakole to step in at short notice.

NZ Herald sports writer Liam Napier joined Piney to recap the match.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks Ed b.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Audi Arabia, where there's been success for KIWI heavyweight Joseph
Parker and read he was perned, Honey's down. I'm not
sure he's.

Speaker 3 (00:25):
Gonna make this count. Mary just about he gets tracks
me stat.

Speaker 2 (00:33):
Pikes all over Joseph Parker knocking out Martin Baccoli in
the second rounds of their heavyweight boxing fight. Watching ringside
was the New Zealand heralds Liam Napier, who joins us
now from Saudi Arabia. Give us the broad brush strokes
of what played out in the two rounds that you
saw Liam with.

Speaker 3 (00:50):
A statement performance. Pony. Joseph Parker, of course came into
this fight hoping to face Daniel Dubui first and foremost.
Dubuis pulled out on two days. Notice that Rob Parker
of a title shot. Martin McCauley stepped up a big
Colonies fighter. He's widely fed in the heavyweight division. They

(01:12):
call him the Monster. He's widely one of the most
powerful punches in the division, and Park of floridam inside
two rounds. One big overhand right and another big statement
to the heavyweight division.

Speaker 2 (01:27):
Was it was an unusual looking end to the to
the about Bacoli was one at one moment was standing
up and then wobbled and then fell down, almost like
a delayed reaction. How did you see it?

Speaker 3 (01:39):
Yeah, the big overhand right collected Piccoli on the front
of the heads and sometimes that can have a bit
of a delayed reaction. And as you mentioned there, Piney
stumbled backwards and was out for the count. Basically as
Corner waved it off and there was no more. We
do have to consider the fact that Martin beccauley flew
all the way from Congo via Ethiopia, arrived about two

(02:01):
am this morning on the on the fight night, he
weighed in fourteen k's heavier than he was for his
previous fight, so underprepared. But look, take nothing away from
Joseph Parker. Barcoley is widely fed, he is twenty one
and one as a heavyweight. He is a real rising

(02:22):
star and Parker has now cleaned out three of the
biggest punches in the heavyweight division in his last three fights.
Deontay Wilder, Zang at the Big Chinese Powerhouse, and now
Barton Bacoley. So Parker said in the ring afterwards, what
more does he have to do? Who's next? He wants
that title shot, whether it's Daniel Dubois or Alexander Usik,

(02:46):
and he's going to be incredibly hard to deny that
after this performance.

Speaker 2 (02:50):
Is Dubois more likely given the fact that that was
the scheduled fight here anyway.

Speaker 3 (02:55):
You would think so piney, But look, anything's possible the
heavyweight division, there's so much politics involved. A unification fight
between Daniel Dubois and a Alexander Usik could take place,
and Parker may have to have another fights. You just
don't know quite what happens with the Massi nations behind

(03:17):
the scenes and who wants what. But that is a
very desirable fights from a promoter's perspective. But Parker deserves
a shot. He's resurrected his career in the last three years.
He's now won six fights in a row, four of
those here in Riad and this was a devastating performance.
He came in at his career heaviest, six kg heavier

(03:40):
than his previous heaviest, and clearly that power had a
massive effect. Because Bocoli is a big man. And it
takes a massive shot to flow him like Parker did.
So he's made significant changes to his team, his body composition,
his style, and all those things are paying off.

Speaker 2 (03:58):
Now all right, we wait to see what is next
for Joseph Parker. Just before your house.

Speaker 3 (04:03):
The venue, it's interesting, Parney. I think the vibe is
certainly not the same from you know, the iconic boxing
venues around the world Madison Square, Guns, Las Vegas or
you know, Wembley. It's quite small. There's still quite a
few empty seats. There's some traveling fans, so there is
a wee bit of atmosphere, a bit of music, but

(04:26):
it certainly doesn't compare to the historic boxing venues around
the world. So while there's money in Saudi, certainly a
lot of it to get the best fighting the best,
the atmosphere probably doesn't compare to some of those other places.

Speaker 2 (04:41):
Good man, Liam, Thanks, I know you've got some media
commitments with the man himself, so we'll let you go.
Thanks for joining us though. With a wrap of the fight.
Liam Napier from The New Zealand Herald read him at
enz Herald dot co dot nz in Saudi Arabia to
watch heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker making light work of Martin Bacoli,
knocking out the Congolese fighter in the second round in

(05:03):
Riard Bacoley only stepped in at short notice of after
Daniel Dubois pulled out. Ill took an overhand right to
the top of the head and then stumbled. It was
quite a bizarre thing to watch, actually, because at first
look I don't even see Parker land the punch, the
overhand right, and then all of a sudden, Mccoli's starting

(05:23):
to wabble and then goes down. It was almost, like
I said to Leeham, there a bit of a delayed reaction.
But Joseph Parker a sixth win on the bounce for
him thirty six and three. He is who knows what
might be next for Kiwi Joe Parker.

Speaker 1 (05:39):
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