Heavyweight boxer Daniel Dubois’ has withdrew from the world title defence against Joseph Parker on Saturday after the champion fell ill two days before the fight.
The Briton was medically evaluated in Saudi Arabia and missed Thursday’s news conference, before being withdrawn later in the evening.
Dubois, 27, was scheduled to make a second defence of his IBF title. There is no information on the nature of his illness.
New Zealand’s Parker, 33, will instead fight Congolese Martin Bakole, who has been drafted in as a late replacement.
Dubois has won 22 professional fights with two defeats. He won the ‘interim’ IBF title against Filip Hrgovic and was elevated to world champion when Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt.
The Londoner made a first defence of his belt by stopping Anthony Joshua in five rounds at Wembley Stadium in September.
Parker has a record of 35 wins and three defeats. He held the WBO heavyweight title between 2015 and 2017.
The highly rated 33-year-old Bakole, who is based in Scotland, has lost once in 22 bouts with 16 knockouts.
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
