Couldn't agree more. I don't usually like slagging fighters off, but Wilder's performance against Parker was shameful. It was the definition of just turning up for the paycheck.
It’s bizarre IMO. Seen the video of him walking in the airport. Surely the Saudis could have sorted him a private jet?
Must be getting really well paid cos he's possibly risking his position here. to come into a fight like this with no prep and maybe jetlag it's all against him. Good luck to him though, some fighters have a hard path and Bakole is in that camp.
Yep, am very confused. Even if the logistics of getting a private jet from Riyadh to Kinshasa aren't the easiest, surely one could have picked him up from Addis where he was apparently transferring. Even in Business / First Class he is going to be drained after those flights.
It’s unprofessional. During transfer windows you get football clubs chartering private planes at short notice for potential signings. These Saudis are mega rich and boxing is the most dangerous sport in the world. I know Billy Nelson is a big believer in Bakole but I’m surprised he has agreed to this with Bakole showing up on fight day with presumably little sleep and a lot of time spent airborne. I’d have a fully fit Bakole beating a fully fit Parker but leaning heavily towards Parker tomorrow night. Just needs to avoid being KO’d within the first three and Martin will surely unravel.
Yeah, there is something very off about all this. As others have mentioned: he has an IBF final eliminator already lined up against Ajagba he is taking multiple plane flights to get to Saudi (no private jet), which suggests he wasn't training as a stand-in Parker has been in camp while he hasn't---e.g., when Ruiz Jr. and Helenius were late replacements against Joshua, they had at least been in recent fights and so were ready to go. he is overweight I can only image they have told him that if he took the fight for Parker's WBO interim then he would be closer to a title shot. The implication being he will be made to wait longer if he went the IBF route through Ajagba in a few months. The more I think about this, the less I like it. Instead of getting Ajagba on a full camp, followed by Parker or Dubois for the full title, he is being rushed into a fight with obvious disadvantages for what reason exactly? I mean I can see why team Warren/Dubois would be happy, they won't have to fight the winner of Bakole/Ajagba. And I can also see why Parker's team would be happy to fight, as Parker has all the advantages. But what is in it for Team Bakole?
I get what you’ve said here. I think maybe to stay in with Turki. Turki owes Bakole a favour after this.
Tbf if he gets beat v Parker, people will say he had no training camp. if he wins without a training camp his stock goes through the roof. it is a gamble which has massive reward
Lots of mitigating circumstances for Bakole coming into this fight, and he has the respect of the Saudi's for saving the card. No way he is losing his place in the pecking order. This is a free hit up for Bakole.
Hope he is being well paid as this ultra late 2 day notice is the stuff of journeymen. Cannot take this fight serious or the Stevenson garbage.
Still excited for tonight but the whole “greatest card ever” doesn’t apply anymore. Not even close. Hopefully they fiddle the order of the fight now and have Buatsi-Smith after Stevenson.