Martin Bakole stepped into the ring on just a short notice after Daniel Dubois was affected by a viral infection. This might heavily affect the strategy Joseph Parker had been planning to carry off if he fought the IBF World Heavyweight champion. So what about the Kananga native who stepped on two day’s notice? Does he have a scope to win against the WBO Interim World Heavyweight champion?

The two will be squaring off in one of the undercard events of the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol rematch in the Kingdom arena, Riyadh in a few hours. But who has the upper hand? Does Martin Bakole have the weight advantage over his opponent? Or is it Joseph Parker who has the advantage? Let’s find out.

How much did Martin Bakole weigh in?

Martin Bakole weighed an unofficial 315 lbs ahead of his fight with Joseph Parker on February 22, 2025. This weight was recorded when Bakole stepped onto a scale with his clothes on since he was still on his way to Riyadh when the official weigh-ins were underway. However, Bakole weighed 284.5 lbs before his knockout victory against Jared Anderson in Los Angeles on August 3, 2024. The same goes before the knockout victory against Carlos Takam where he weighed in a whopping 299 lbs. In comparison to last year’s bout, there is an increase of around 30.5 pounds, reflecting the extent to which Bakole has bulked up in just 5 months.

Martin Bakole’s decision to come in heavier could have been a strategic move to counter Joseph Parker’s increased size and strength. However, there are concerns about whether the added weight could work against him, particularly in the later rounds. Some believe that Martin Bakole might gas out if he doesn’t catch Parker early, especially given the fact that he hasn’t had a full training camp to prepare for the Last Crescendo fight.

Martin Bakole vs. Joseph Parker: Who is heavier?

In the heavyweight clash between Martin Bakole and Joseph Parker, Bakole is the heavier fighter. And what about Joseph Parker?

Joseph Parker has been through an intense and structured weight management program and weighed in at 267 lbs (121 kg) for this fight. This marks a career-high for the Lupesoliai La’auliolemalietoa, who had previously fought at a lighter weight but has gained significant muscle mass in an experiment led by his trainer, Andy Lee, and nutrition expert George Lockhart. Parker’s weight gain was all part of a strategy if he ever happened to face Zhilei Zhang for a rematch. However, it seems like the possibility of them fighting is far away from reality. The reason you ask? Well, just a few hours ago everyone saw the Chinese Heavyweight champion’s 6th-round knockout defeat to Agit Kabayel. So that erases all the possibilities as of now.

Moving back to why Joseph Parker decided to put on his weight: “The reason was to maximize his size and power, without sacrificing Joe’s mobility and speed,” Lee told Telegraph Sport. Following the strategy, he worked on a strength-building regimen, including intense weightlifting, endurance running, and a specialized diet that helped him add muscle mass over several months.

So, while Bakole may have gained significant weight for the fight, it’s important to note that his weight is considerably higher than Parker’s. Bakole’s 315 lbs represents a more significant size advantage in the ring, which might give him the ability to impose himself physically on Parker, particularly early in the fight. But if it goes longer, Bakole just might be in trouble.

With that said, who do you think will emerge victorious – Joseph Parker or Martin Bakole?