The Andy Lee advice that helped Joseph Parker land knockout win over Martin Bakole

After a manic few days, Joseph Parker landed the 24th knockout of his career as he stopped Martin Bakole in the second round of their heavyweight bout in Saudi Arabia to retain his interim WBO heavyweight title.

Bakole stepped in on extremely short notice to face the Andy Lee-trained Parker after Daniel Dubois pulled out of his bout with the Kiwi on Thursday due to illness.

Parker called for the opportunity to fight for a world title after the bout, which Bakole only arrived in Saudi Arabia for in the early hours of Saturday morning, and also paid tribute to his coach.

The result means Parker becomes the WBO mandatory challenger for full title-holder Oleksandr Usyk.

“I want to thank the people of Saudi Arabia and my team," said Parker. "Martin Bakole, thank you very much for accepting the invitation and for giving me a good fight.

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“I’m fit, I’m strong and I’m healthy thanks to these men. Andy [Lee] was breaking it down for me.

“Who’s next? How can I fight for the world title next? If [Oleksandr] Usyk wants a dance partner next, then we can get Uncle Frank [Warren] in here.

“Andy gave me the instruction to be patient and I caught him when he came.”

Parker, who has been based in Dublin with Lee in recent years, dominated the opening round before Bakole landed a couple of nice shots towards the end of it.

However, a right hand to the top of the Congolese fighter's head sent him crashing to the canvas after his legs went from underneath his large body in the second, with his coach Billy Nelson pulling him out of the fight.

Lee and Nelson will be in opposite corners again next weekend when Paddy Donovan and Lewis Crocker clash in an eliminator for the IBF world welterweight title at the SSE Arena in Belfast.

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