Lost Souls: Cruiserweight Lateef Kayode Fighting at 222 Pounds in Wrong Division?
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
Trained by Freddie Roach, and having reached 20-0 with 16 knockouts, the still active Lateef Olalalekin ‘Power’ Kayode, fighting out of Hollywood, California by way of Lagos Nigeria, should be at the top of the cruiserweight division. Ever since fighting to a 12 round No-Contest with Antonio Tarver for the IBO Cruiserweight World title on Showtime Championship Boxing in June 2012 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California (Tarver initially won the bout but the result was voided when Tarver tested positive for Drostalonone Maseron, an ancillary steroid drug used to combat estrogenic side effects caused by mass-building steroids such as water retention), Kayode has been a lost soul.
Once a big name and feared somebody, Kayode, who had held the WBO NABO, NABA and NABF Cruiserweight North American titles, has quietly fought his last two bouts in the wrong division for him at heavyweight, defeating Travis Fulton at the Chumash Casino in California in December 2013 by second round stoppage weighing 216 pounds, and defeating Jonte Willis by sixth round stoppage at the Emerald Queens Casino in Washington State in January 2014 at 222 pounds, his career highest fight weight.
Lateef Kayode needs to get over Antonio Tarver. If Kayode cannot get a rematch with Tarver, he should be fighting Yoan Pablo Hernandez (IBF), Guillermo Jones (WBA), Marco Huck (WBO), Ola Afolabi (IBO), Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (WBC), the winner of Ilunga Makabu (whom Nathan Cleverly pulled out against twice) versus Ruben Angel Mino, the winner of Thabiso Mchunu (WBC Silver titleholder) versus Olanrewaju Durodola (for the vacant vacant NABF title), Mairis Breidis (IBA), Mirko Larghetti (EBU), or Braimah Kamoko (WBO African). Others, like Jeremiah Graziano, Alexander Frenkel, and Anders Hugger have given up their careers after going unbeaten at cruiserweight. Kayode should not give up on the cruiserweight division, and should drop back down to 199 pounds or less. With help from noted boxing promoter Gary Shaw, Lateef Kayode should go back to the cruiserweight division where he still might be the best.
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