Andy Lee explains crazy 24 hours after late change of opponent for Joseph Parker
The Irish boxing coach and former world champion will be in Joseph Parker's corner on what is being described as the best fight card in history
Andy Lee has opened up on an incredible 24 hours in Riyadh which saw a new opponent found for his fighter Joseph Parker after Daniel Dubois withdrew from their heavyweight IBF title bout due to illness.
At just two days' notice, Martin Bakole was summoned from the Democratic Republic of Congo to replace Dubois and face Parker in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
It's a huge week for former middleweight world champion and Limerick native Lee, with another of his star fighters, Paddy Donovan, facing Lewis Crocker in a final eliminator for the IBF World Welterweight Title next Saturday in Belfast.
Like Crocker, Bakole is also coached by Glasgow trainer Billy Nelson, meaning the coaches will be in opposite corners both this weekend and next.
On a crazy 24 hours in the Middle East, Lee told iFL TV: "This time yesterday we were fighting Dubois and now we're fighting Bakole, but it's a blessing isn't it? What a turnaround. It shows you what they can do here in Saudi Arabia, what Turki Alalshikh can do.
"With one phone call he can make the next best fight in boxing really, in the heavyweight division."
Martin Bakole (Image: Matchroom Boxing/Getty Images)On how they heard of the replacement opponent, Lee explained: "Turki Alalshikh and Ring Magazine put it out online. We got here, there was no fight, we didn't know what was happening. He was sick, was he going to be ready? They told us he's still being assessed. What are the options for opponents?
"They offered us Bakole or (Lawrence) Okolie. Joe said he wanted Bakole. That's what we said to Turki on the phone and we got Bakole and it was announced when we got off the golf cart. That's what Joe asked for. He wanted that fight."
Meanwhile, Frank Warren says Dubois will incur a âmassive financial lossâ after he was forced to withdraw from his fight with Parker.
âIt was a big fight, heâs trained very hard,â Queensbury promoter Warren told iFL TV.
âIf you donât fight you donât get paid, imagine the cost of a training camp, booking places, setting the camp up, bringing the sparring partners in, nutritionists, chefs, trainers, and you donât get paid.
âItâs a massive loss, you canât insure it, if you do it costs a fortune to insure.
âIt was an unbelievable purse he was getting for the fight but we are where we are: if youâre not well, you canât fight.
âIâm always saying to the fighters I donât want to hear after the event if anything goes wrong that you had a bad hand, or a cold, or your budgie died â none of that matters, you live to fight another day."
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