By Luis Sandoval
Lateef Kayode will headline a rare quadruple fight card presented by Showtime when he takes on Antonio Tarver for the IBO Cruiserweight championship on June 2nd at the Home Depot Center. There is an underlying story as Kayode has taken offense to Tarver’s criticism of him in the past. Tarver who also works as a commentator for Showtime and has called some of Kayode’s recent fights, has been critical of Kayode’s performances in the ring.
“He said bad [things] about me that I don’t have experience. He said I don’t have experience but he called me to be a sparring partner for Danny Green. So why do you call me to be a sparring partner when you say I don’t have experience?! I’m not going to be a sparring partner. I want to fight you to show the world who is the best between me and you” expressed a highly animated Kayode.
During their Los Angeles press conference Kayode made it known that he did not appreciate the comments Tarver has made about him. He’s vowed to make Tarver eat his words and promised to knock him out.
“This fight is going to be a knockout. He’s going to be knocked down and I’m going to knock him out. I’m going to knock [him] out before the 5th round. He said all this sh*t. Whatever he likes to say, he can say. Showtime pays him money because of his mouth” said the Nigerian native to Boxingscene.com.
Both fighters did their share of talking at the press conference and they’ll get a chance to back up their words when they meet in the ring on June 2nd.
You can follow Luis Sandoval on Twitter @truewest007. You can also tune in to Boxingscene’s official audio show The Boxing Lab every Tuesday from 6-8PM PST with hosts Ernest Gabion, Luis Sandoval, and Ryan Burton.
