Who is Scotland-based Congolese heavyweight Bakole?

Congo-born Martin Bakole views himself as half-Scottish

Artur Beterbiev v Dmitry Bivol - plus undercard featuring Bakole v Parker

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Date: Saturday, 22 February

BBC Coverage: Follow radio coverage on BBC Sport website and app from 16:30 GMT, before switching to BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and BBC Sport website at 19:30. Follow live text on the BBC Sport website and app from 18:30 GMT.

From the Democratic Republic of the Congo via the central Scottish village of Greengairs, and now onwards to Saudi Arabia, Martin Bakole has stepped in at 48 hours' notice as a late replacement for IBF world heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois.

Considering Scotland does not exactly boast a rich history of world-class heavyweights, the 31-year-old, who has previously described himself as half-Scottish, might well find himself being fully embraced as he takes on Joseph Parker in a bout being televised around the world.

Bakole has been based in Airdrie, where he has been working with experienced Scottish trainer Billy Nelson, for almost a decade.

When Dubois was revealed to be ill after missing a media conference in Riyadh scheduled for Thursday, Bakole's promoter, Boxxer, responded to the search for a replacement despite their fighter not being in camp and not due to enter the ring again until May.

Boxxer chief executive Ben Shalom told Sky Sports: "He was in the Congo - he's on his way."

Bakole had been scheduled to face Nigerian contender Efe Ajaba in a final eliminator to face Dubois but will now take on 33-year-old former WBO champion Parker instead for what is expected to be a non-title contest.

Shalom described doing so as "crazy" but suggested it was an example of his boxer's willingness to "fight anyone".

"If you're ever going to have a chance at beating Martin Bakole, it's on two days' notice," he admitted. "But I still think he's the favourite in the fight.

"I think a 50% Martin Bakole beats both heavyweights. Fair play to Joseph Parker as well for taking Martin Bakole. Everyone knew we were going to put our name in the hat - we were pushing for it."

The partnership with Nelson, who previously worked with super-featherweight, lightweight and light-welterweight champion Ricky Burns, certainly appears to be bearing plenty of fruit, with Bakole quietly going about his business while some of the other names in the division have been taking the headlines.

At 6ft 6in and weighing 280lbs, Bakole cuts a fearsome figure and has put together an impressive professional record of 21 wins – 16 by way of knockout - with just one defeat.

That loss came seven years ago and his undoubted pedigree is reflected by the fact he is comfortably well within the top five in the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO heavyweight rankings.

Speaking on the 5 Live Boxing podcast, former world featherweight champion Barry Jones said of Parker: "It makes no sense why they would take the fight.

"Bakole's been avoided for a reason - because he's big, powerful and skilful and also his engine's improved dramatically since losing to Michael Hunter in 2018 - but not a massively sellable product.

"It's a difficult fight for Parker because he's been training for a different kind of fighter."

Bakole has also sparred with Dubois and will hope a win over Parker will hasten a shot at the 27-year-old Briton - and his world title.

On his social media profile on X, he describes himself as born to conquer – and a win over the New Zealander on Saturday would certainly be a big step in that direction and the desire, expressed in a newspaper interview a few years ago, to stage a world title fight in his adopted homeland.