Parker (35-3) is a former WBO heavyweight champion who was supposed to compete in his first world title fight since 2018. He has won five straight since a loss in 2022, including wins against Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang.
The 33-year-old has found new life in the sport thanks to the partnership with Andy Lee, fighting three times in 2023. From age to replacement opponents, Parker’s ready to prove he’s still a force at heavyweight.
Bakole’s opponents have the highest connect rate (32.1%) compared to Parker (28.7%) and land more power punches. It appears Parker has the edge in defense, if only by a little.
When other people question you, you have to produce,” Parker told BoxingScene. “It gives you extra motivation. I know, and my team knows, what I can do in the ring. But other people, because of past performances, didn’t really know what to expect from me in those fights. I had extra drive and motivation. I knew what I could do.
“Even now, people are writing me off. They’re saying I beat an old Wilder and a tired Zhang. But that doesn’t matter.”
Parker is tough as nails. He overcame two knockdowns against Zhilei Zhang and outworked the Chinese fighter, landing 101 of 349 shots (28.9%). Against Deontay Wilder, Parker landed 29 jabs and 41% of his strikes for power. He landed 20 strikes in the eighth round
An upset for Bakole isn’t out of the question. He landed a surprise uppercut against Jared Anderson, knocking the big man down early. He landed 86 of 284 strikes (30.3%), 19 in the third for power and 22 total in the fourth.
Parker can work on the inside and land vicious uppercuts against Bakole, who can do the same. What is Bakole’s stamina like after not having a full training camp to prepare?
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Upsets in boxing are not new. Bakole can walk into Saudi Arabia and shock the world. However, Parker has had a full training camp with Andy Lee, one of the best trainers in the sport. It may take a while to figure Bakole out, but Parker should get a stoppage win.
When other people question you, you have to produce,” Parker told BoxingScene. “It gives you extra motivation. I know, and my team knows, what I can do in the ring. But other people, because of past performances, didn’t really
know what to expect from me in those fights. I had extra drive and motivation. I knew what I could do. “Even now, people are writing me off. They’re saying I beat an old Wilder and a tired Zhang. But that doesn’t matter.”
