Poll - Who wins? Joseph Parker or Martin Bakole?

I admire Parker's courage and I choose him in this fight, Bakole is a tough nut but Parker has what it takes to win, so Parker wins...

 

I think that finding Bakole available just 48 hours before the match is a great thing. The Congolese boxer is good and going through a great moment but certainly not having done the preparation will not help him. I say that Parker will win on points but Bakole will have his moments during the fight.

 

I see this as an easier fight for Parker. We know Bakole fades and Parker is very durable. Parker's speed and Bakole being so easy too hit and not being particularly mobile should see Parker win a clear decision.

 

I had Dubois down to catch and stop Parker very quickly but for me now, Parker gets a win over a 60% fit Bakole. The Joyce, Wilder and Zhang fights give him the experience to neutralise Bakole for a late stoppage or more likely, a points decision. Plus Parker had trained a full camp for a quicker, more powerful and more youthful fighter in Dubois.

 

Indeed.

If both had a full camp and Bakole was coming in his best possible condition? I'd go Parker on points without much hesitation - Bakole might get a KD or two and/or a KO, but I wouldn't consider it the most likely outcome.

If Bakole comes in out of shape, which is quite possible, then there's a strong chance he gasses and Parker gets a stoppage through accumulation... Bakole could still hurt him, but it's less likely IMHO.

Either way, Parker's the far more proven and developed fighter and rightly strong favourite.

 

I expect Joseph Parker to win because he feels like he’s only just begun now. After all these years he’s finally got it right now with his trainer Andy Lee and nutritionist George Lockhart.

Andy Lee will come up with the perfect gameplan and the fittest and and most mentally sharp Parker there’s ever been will carry it out.

 

If Bakole had a full camp, I'd pick him to break Parker down and stop him without hesitation.

I'll wait until the weigh in before my "official" prediction, but for now I'm gonna assume Bakole isn't in terrible shape. He's very highly ranked, in a great position right now and had an important fight lined up, so for him and his trainer to take a fight on such short notice, he must be in somewhat decent shape. Not optimal though.

Parker not being a fighter that pushes the pace that much probably helps Bakole. Parker barely took any risks against Wilder and Zhang, even late on when Zhang had no gas left.

Genuinely confused that some people think Parker will stop Bakole.

 

I’m worried it’s going to be another Parker-Joyce type of fight with another high punch output big man overwhelming him. Hope I’m wrong.

 

It really comes down what shape Bakole is in. Parker will be in good shape. He has been bulking up. You can’t bulk up without training hard.

 

I feel that if Parker can make Bakole work for the whole fight by staying in range with good movement he might tire Bakole out and finish him in the late rounds like Hunter did.

This could be a bit like the gameplan Joyce uses but rather by getting close and then defending with speed and movement than by just taking the punches and keeping the output high like Joyce did. Plus Parker is good at riding punches.
Though bulking up would not benefit this plan too much and I wonder if the fight is now for ten rounds to account for Bakoles late notice. But in any way to me Parkers biggest advantages should lie in defense, footwork and stamina so he should find a way to use that.

 

If this fight goes ahead ( I have my doubts, feels like a publicity stunt)

The good thing about it, is the overhyping of Bakole ends. Fully expect a Parker win.

 

Parker will box rings around Bakole no doubt about it.

 

Parker winning this fight is much more likely than it was against Dubois. But Bakole destroying Parker is still a possibility just not the expectation.

 

Bakole is tailor-made for Parker. Parker UD.