Antonio Tarver believes his vast experience against better, higher-profile fighters will be one of his biggest advantages when he faces Lateef Kayode in a cruiserweight bout June 2 in Carson, Calif.
From the moment their fight was inked, the June 2 cruiserweight showdown between Antonio Tarver and Lateef Kayode has been billed as a grudge match. The seeds for the rivalry were planted well over a year ago during a Showtime “Shobox” broadcast. Tarver - who serves an announcer for the series – was critical of Kayode during his Feb. ’11 fight with Nicholas Ianuzzi, a fight in which Kayode won a very unpopular ten-round decision.
Luis Sandoval catches up with undefeated cruiserweight contender Lateef Kayode to discuss his upcoming fight with former multi division world champion Antonio Tarver, training camp and more.
NEW YORK - Training camp continues in full steam for the talented and confident boxers who'll be fighting on "Four Warned" - the highly anticipated quadrupleheader featuring a pair of boxing legends in dangerous assignments and two world championship fights on Saturday, June 2, live on SHOWTIME® from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. In the main event, former light heavyweight champion and current SHOWTIME boxing analyst Antonio "Magic Man" Tarver (29-6, 20 KO's), of Tampa, Fla., will face unbeaten, hard-hitting Lateef "Power" Kayode (18-0, 14 KO's), of Hollywood, Calif., by way of Lagos, Nigeria, in a 12-round cruiserweight bout.
NEW YORK – Training camp continues in full steam for the talented and confident boxers who’ll be fighting on “Four Warned” – the highly anticipated quadrupleheader featuring a pair of boxing legends in dangerous assignments and two world championship fights on Saturday, June 2, live on SHOWTIME® from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
TAMPA, Fla. – Less than three weeks before Antonio Tarver steps into the ring to continue his campaign at cruiserweight by taking on the unbeaten power puncher Lateef Kayode, the “Magic Man” held an open workout on Tuesday before a packed house of his hometown media at Calta’s 24/7 Fitness. Tarver vs. Kayode will headline “Four Warned,” a stacked night of boxing on SHOWTIME® featuring four high-stakes prizefights. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will air live at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) on Saturday, June 2 from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Joining Tarver at the workout on Tuesday was his good friend Ronald “Winky” Wright, who will fight in the co-main event, making his return to the ring against rising star “Kid Chocolate” Peter Quillin.
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.
By Thomas Gerbasi - It’s been over nine months since his last fight against Danny Green, but Antonio Tarver has never been one to let go of past slights. “I went into the Green fight a 5 to 1 underdog,” said an incredulous Tarver, who went to Green’s backyard of Australia last July and knocked his foe out in the ninth round. “5 to 1 underdog? The whole country could have come back right (if it would have bet on him).” Then comes the laugh, one like no other in the boxing business. It’s probably the best part about talking to the former light heavyweight champion, a genuine and infectious bellow that only comes slightly ahead of the second best part of talking to him: his passion for the game. Whether you agree with him or not, there is no disputing the fact that Tarver cares. About his craft, his legacy, about anything he puts his hands on and time into. You have to respect that. “The passion never left,” said the 43-year old from Tampa, who is currently preparing for his Showtime main event on June 2nd against unbeaten Lateef Kayode. “It’s always been there. The passion to be champ, the passion to win, the passion to go down in history as one of the great fighters of this era. All that still drives me. I’m still winning championships. They want to put me in the same category as a Roy Jones, as a James Toney, and these characters. And it’s not even the same. I ain’t seen one of those guys winning a title or come close to winning a title of any sort in years. How can they be calling for me to retire? Are they kidding?”
Luis Sandoval catches up with undefeated Lateef Kayode to discuss his upcoming defense against IBO cruiserweight champion Antonio Tarver, the bad blood between them and more.
Luis Sandoval catches the Los Angeles press conference to the big Showtime quadrupleheader. Hear from Antonio Tarver, Winky Wright, Austin Trout, Peter Quillin, Lateef Kayode and more.