Joseph Parker was set to challenge for Daniel Dubois’ IBF heavyweight title, but instead faced Martin Bakole when Dubois fell ill.
Joseph Parker added another victory to his recent highlight reel, as he stopped feared contender, Martin Bakole, in just the second round to retain his WBO interim title. This impressive win, which occurred on February 22, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, came after Martin Bakole stepped in on just 48 hours’ notice when Daniel Dubois was forced to withdraw due to illness.
This marked another significant win in Parker’s career, which has seen a remarkable resurgence following his loss to Joe Joyce in September 2022. Parker now holds notable victories over Zhilei Zhang, Martin Bakole, and Deontay Wilder.
Though his immediate plans for a second world title shot against Dubois were initially postponed, Parker still harbored high hopes to become a two-time heavyweight champion, ready to face either Dubois or Oleksandr Usyk.
Parker’s Resurgence and Recent Heavyweight Battles
Joseph Parker’s recent form has been nothing short of spectacular, transforming his career trajectory. Before his interim title defense against Bakole, Parker secured a dominant unanimous decision victory over former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder on December 23, 2023, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Parker outboxed Wilder throughout the 12 rounds, with judges scoring the bout 118-111, 118-110, and 120-108 in his favor. This upset victory derailed a highly anticipated clash between Wilder and Anthony Joshua.
Following the Wilder triumph, Parker faced the formidable Chinese heavyweight Zhilei Zhang on March 8, 2024, also in Riyadh. Despite being knocked down twice by Zhang’s powerful left hand in the third round and a right hook in the eighth, Parker displayed immense resilience and outworked his opponent in the later rounds to secure a majority decision win (113-113, 114-112, 115-111). This victory earned Parker the WBO interim heavyweight title, setting the stage for his defense against Martin Bakole.
The win over Bakole, a short-notice replacement, further cemented Parker’s status as a top contender. Bakole, who had previously knocked out Jared Anderson, was seen as a dangerous opponent, but Parker’s precise right hand to the temple in the second round sent Bakole tumbling, leading to his corner halting the fight.
Andy Lee Says Parker Should Step Aside for Dubois vs Usyk 2
In an interview with Boxing King Media, Parker’s trainer, Andy Lee, expressed a strategic view on his fighter’s path to a full world title shot:
“Even if it takes him sitting out and letting Dubois and Usyk fight, then he’ll sit out and fight the winner, then that’s what he should do.”
The Undisputed Heavyweight Crown: Usyk vs. Dubois II
The scenario Andy Lee alluded to ultimately played out. Oleksandr Usyk had already bested Daniel Dubois once on August 26, 2023, via a ninth-round knockout, though that fight was marred by controversy surrounding a low-blow call. Following Usyk’s second victory over Tyson Fury, a rematch with Dubois became a clear objective for the Ukrainian, who sought to definitively close that chapter of his career.
Usyk had first defeated Tyson Fury by split decision on May 18, 2024, to become the undisputed heavyweight champion. He then solidified his reign by winning a unanimous decision in their rematch on December 21, 2024, retaining his WBO, WBA, and WBC titles. Tyson Fury subsequently announced his retirement from boxing on January 13, 2025.
The highly anticipated rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois for the undisputed heavyweight championship indeed took place on July 19, 2025, at Wembley Stadium in London. Usyk delivered a sensational performance, securing a fifth-round knockout victory over Dubois. Usyk first dropped Dubois with a right hook to the temple before delivering a decisive left hook that sent Dubois to the canvas for the final count. This victory made Usyk a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, further cementing his legacy as one of the greatest heavyweights of his generation. At the time of the stoppage, the judges’ scorecards read 40-36, 39-37, and 39-37, all in favor of Usyk.
Despite the calls for Parker to step aside, many in the boxing world believed Parker had earned a shot at Usyk’s crown, especially given his recent string of victories and the fact that he had not yet been defeated by the pound-for-pound king.
Who Has Joseph Parker Lost To?
Parker now holds a professional record of 36-4. His first professional loss came at the hands of Anthony Joshua on March 31, 2018, who defeated Parker by unanimous decision in a unification bout for the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles. This loss came only two fights after Parker won his first world title, the vacant WBO heavyweight championship, against Andy Ruiz Jr. by majority decision on December 10, 2016. As fate would have it, Ruiz Jr. later went on to defeat Joshua himself.
Parker’s next defeat also came by decision to Dillian Whyte on July 28, 2018, in London, marking his second consecutive loss after the Joshua fight. Whyte knocked Parker down twice during the contest. Parker’s third loss came four years later when Joe Joyce became the first man to stop Parker, securing an 11th-round technical knockout in September 2022.
Aftermath and Future Implications
Following his impressive run, Joseph Parker’s WBO interim title reign came to an end on October 25, 2025, when he faced Fabio Wardley at The O2 Arena in London. Parker suffered a technical knockout loss in the 11th round, bringing his professional record to 36 wins and 4 losses. This result means Parker no longer holds the WBO Interim World Heavyweight Championship.
The heavyweight division has seen significant shifts, with Oleksandr Usyk now firmly established as a two-time undisputed champion after his dominant victory over Daniel Dubois. For Joseph Parker, despite the setback against Wardley, his recent victories over top contenders like Wilder and Zhang demonstrate his continued relevance at the elite level. His path back to a full world title shot will now involve rebuilding momentum, but his proven ability to compete with and defeat dangerous heavyweights ensures he remains a significant figure in the division.
