Daniel Dubois out due to illness; Joseph Parker gets new opponent for Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2 card

The highly anticipated showdown between Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker scheduled for Saturday is no longer happening.

Dubois is off the card after the British heavyweight fell ill prior to the pre-fight press conference on Thursday. Doctors evaluated Dubois but ultimately couldn’t clear him to compete, so he’s been pulled from the event.

In his place steps late replacement Martin Bakole, who now faces off against Parker on just 48 hours notice as part of the card headlined by Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2. Ring Magazine announced the change on Thursday after Dubois was ruled out.

It’s unfortunate news for Dubois as the 27-year-old fighter sought to add another marquee win to his resume after shocking the world with a brutal knockout over Anthony Joshua this past September.

Dubois was likely in line for a shot against heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk with a win on Saturday, but now that potential matchup may have to wait. Dubois suffered a loss to Usyk back in 2023, and he’s been gunning for a rematch ever since.

As for Parker, he looks to build on an impressive five-fight win streak when he returns on Saturday after previously scoring wins over the likes of Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang. If Parker gets past the late replacement in Bakole, he might jump right over Dubois and into that title fight against Usyk.

Bakole enters the fight with a 21-1 record, including a blistering knockout over Jared Anderson in his most recent outing this past August.

Parker vs. Bakole is expected to serve as the new co-main event for the card headlined by Beterbiev and Bivol on Saturday from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.