Eddie Hearn has had his say on the l ast-minute heavyweight contest between Joseph Parker and Martin Bakole. For many months, New Zealander Parker has been in camp training for a fight with IBF world champion Daniel Dubois. However, around 48 hours before the first bell news emerged that the champion had taken ill and was pulled out of the fight.

Bakole was forced to catch two flights to Saudi Arabia and only arrived on the day of the fight, where he was subsequently defeated inside two rounds by Parker. Speaking afterwards, Hearn stressed that he believed it was the wrong choice to accept the bout, especially with an IBF title eliminator looming in May for the star.