The last time we featured the 27-year-old Kayode in March, he had just signed with promoter Gary Shaw. Under the tutelage of Young Dick Tiger and, later, Freddie Roach, the 200-pounder amassed a spotless 10-0 record, with the last nine of his victories coming by knockout in three rounds or less.
“If people get to see you and touch you and smell you and watch you, that’s what makes someone fan-friendly,” said Shaw. “Lateef, like Alfredo Angulo, has a very fan-friendly style. He swings for the fences, has spectacular power, trains hard in the gym, and when he gets the ring, he lights it up.”
Five months later, the 6’2” Nigerian with a sledgehammer of a right cross has accumulated two additional stoppage wins and now finds himself on the verge of his first belt, when he makes his television debut this Friday on “ShoBox: The New Generation” from the Grand Casino in Hinckley, Minnesota. Kayode will face Puerto Rico’s Alfredo Escalera Jr., for the vacant NABO cruiserweight title.
In only a short span with Shaw, Kayode has the opportunity to crack the WBO’s top-ten and his promoter wasn’t shy about making me aware of the fact. “The other fighters will soon realize that I move fighters possibly better than anyone in the business. My track record speaks for itself. Lateef’s last knockout was in Sports Illustrated and, in a short time, he’ll be fighting for the world title at cruiserweight.”
“By the grace of God, I’ll win the fight,” declared the chiseled cruiserweight, the humility in his voice still evident from our last conversation five months ago. “I’m not looking for a knockout but if it’s there, I’ll go for it.”
The bout represents more than a labor of love for Steven Feder. Kayode was the first fighter who inked with Standing Eight Management, a stable Feder co-manages with Roach. “You try to not get caught up in it,” said Feder, his voice rising with very word. “But I’d be lying to say that this fight doesn’t have a certain level of sentimental value for us. We started him from ground zero, turning pro, and built him without a promoter for the first eight fights. It’s been a journey and we’ve been through a lot together.”
In contrast with Kayode’s last two matchups with Chris Thomas, a 6’4” tall boxer, and Jose Luis Herrera, a 6’1” slugger, Escalera, son of former WBC super featherweight champ Alfredo Escalera Sr., presents a different type of challenge. “I saw some of his fights on YouTube and a DVD from Steve,” shared Kayode. “I want to keep my distance for this fight, so if he wants to box, I can box. But if he wants to fight, I can fight.”
Feder agreed with his client’s appraisal of the situation. “Lateef’s got a dangerous right. We’re looking for [Escalera’s] habits and what he favors. He likes to crowd, but that’ll be difficult for him with Lateef. He’s got a lot more experience and rounds than Lateef but we’ll be ready.”
Kayode’s training regimen has also increased in intensity. “I’ve been running in the [Santa Monica Mountains] eight miles a day, three times a week. I’ve done more bag work, more pad work, everything.”
Roach confirmed his approval. “This is the best he’s looked. It’s been a great camp. Lateef’s trained very hard and he’s ready to bring home the belt.”
Kayode hasn’t lacked quality sparring partners either, going ten rounds on almost a daily basis toward the end of camp. “He’s been sparring guys like [THE RING’s number nine-rated cruiserweight] Ola Afolabi,” shared Feder. “We’ve been throwing all kinds of styles at him and rotating up to six fighters a day.”
Based on his ledger to date, it is clear that Kayode personifies his “Power” nickname. However, the question for this bout is how he adjusts if Escalera can withstand the early onslaught and attempts to box. “The jab will be a key for this fight,” said assistant trainer Jose Benavidez Sr. “We’ve also been working on making sure he doesn’t loop his punches and he’s been coming along nicely.”
With a top-ten ranking at stake and the implicit pressure in pleasing the television executives at Showtime, the onus will be on Kayode to perform to the best of his abilities. While he’s aware of what hangs in the balance, he’s just as intent on satisfying some very important people across the Atlantic Ocean.
“My family at home in the Surulere province [in Lagos] will be watching the fight,” said Lateef, who misses his family and has been burning through phone cards to stay in constant contact with them. “They’ve been wishing me the best.”
If Kayode continues his rise through the cruiserweight division this Friday, he might make things interesting for ardent fans like the Sandovals once again. If he can accomplish that, we might have to start calling him Oba.
In the fighter’s native tongue of Yoruba, the word translates to “king.”
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WEST COAST WATCH: OVERTIME
On Thursday’s Watch, 140-pound Wild Card regular Dean Byrne, 12-0 (5), was last seen in the United Kingdom. It turns out he’ll fight this Saturday in the Citywest Hotel in Dublin, Ireland, possibly against Juris Ivanovs of Latvia, according to Boxing-Ireland.com. Byrne has been sparring former amateur lightweight world champion Frankie Gavin, as “Irish Lightning” looks forward to his first pro fight on home soil. Dolphil Promotions will handle the card, entitled “The Homecoming.”
Another fighter mentioned in the last Watch was Norwalk’s Carlos Molina, 12-0 (6). This time, his little brother Javier, 3-0 (3), gets his name out there. The former Beijing Olympian from Commerce, California, was originally slated to fight on August 13 but according to Craig Goossen of Goossen-Tutor Promotions, his hand injury hasn’t fully healed. Look for the explosive junior welterweight to hopefully come back strong in September.
Staying on the topic of southern California kids, Kayode’s fight on Friday is the lead-in to Gary Shaw stablemate and “ShoBox” headliner, Lancaster bantamweight Chris Avalos, 16-0 (13), who takes on Chula Vista’s Christopher Martin, 18-0-2 (5).
The resurgent Victor Ortiz’ name has been floated around as a potential opponent for Saul Alvarez, 33-0-1 (25), on the Golden Boy-promoted September 18 Mora-Mosley undercard but the smart money is on a fight between “Canelo” and former undisputed world welterweight champion Carlos Baldomir, 45-12-6 (14). Oxnard-based Ortiz, 27-2-1 (21), is scheduled to fight on the same card but will most likely face another opponent at his usual weight of 140 pounds.
Per David Mayo of The Grand Rapids Press, Mayweather Promotions LLC, headed by none other than current vacationer Floyd “Money” Mayweather, owes $62,000 in unpaid rent and has been evicted from its office in Las Vegas on 1001 S. Rancho Drive. Team Mayweather claimed its withholding of rent was due to the facility’s conditions being “substandard.” This isn’t the first time the pound-for-pounder has had financial problems. The same newspaper reported that the IRS has filed ten liens against him since 2004, including one worth $6.2 million in 2008.
San Francisco welterweight Karim Mayfield, 13-0-1 (8), is currently in Las Vegas getting some work in with trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. “The Hard Hitta” is preparing for a fight at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California, on September 11 versus an unnamed opponent for a purported state title shot.
Down the peninsula from the “City by the Bay,” his usual head cornerman, Ben Bautista, has had an eventful month. He’s been hard at work at the Undisputed Gym in San Carlos helping out former world champion Dodie Boy Peñalosa Sr. with his son, Filipino super bantamweight Dodie Boy Peñalosa Jr., 1-0 (1).
At the same gym, Bautista trains Chico super flyweight Ava Knight, 5-1-2 (2), who has been sparring with men like Filipino-Hawaiian Bruno Escalante, 1-0-1. Knight, a former WBC world title challenger, is willing to go overseas for another shot if necessary. The one name that popped up was WIBA 118-pound champ Shondell Alfred, 12-5 (4).
Bautista, who also doubles as proprietor of the Straight Forward Boxing Club in San Francisco, recently returned from the National Junior Golden Gloves in Mesquite, Nevada, where his 13-year-old son, Izaiah, was a finalist in the 80-pound division. Another of his amateurs, junior welterweight southpaw Greg Good, gave Gilroy’s Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero some sparring work before his lopsided decision over Joel Casamayor last Saturday.
Embracing his new role as Regional Director for USA Boxing, Bautista also managed the Northern-Central California team that came away from July’s National Senior Open Championships with two titlists and six medalists in all. The team, as a whole, took the bronze medal.
Jose Ramirez of Avenal (132 pounds) and Jessica Ponce of Napa (106 pounds) emerged victorious in Colorado Springs but the surprise result was Hayward light heavyweight Cymone Kearney’s early exit from the tournament. The 178-pounder was well ahead by a margin of 31-14 against Maryland’s Jerry Odom until an overhand right in the third and final round turned the tide, resulting in a referee stoppage. Despite the loss, Kearney still has another year to make a run for the London Olympics. If not, the promising prospect figures to be an outstanding pro under the guidance of his father, Virgil Hunter. The last light heavyweight that left the amateur ranks with the Oakland-based trainer was WBA super middleweight titlist Andre Ward.
Speaking of amateur standouts, former San Francisco Golden Gloves champion and U.S. national team member Richard Hargraves, 2-0 (2), reportedly has two bouts lined up. The first one for the junior middleweight will take place in the San Mateo Expo Center on August 14, with the second occurring in the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles on September 11. Phantom Productions will promote both cards.
The California State Athletic Commission held its latest meeting at the Department of Health Care Services Building in Sacramento last Monday. Among the boxing-related highlights were a proposed fighter pension plan, license applications for new judges and promoters, and Kermit Cintron’s appeal of his four-round technical decision loss to Paul Williams. I was able to obtain a copy of the minutes, which I have shared with you here.
Ryan can be reached at rmaquinana@gmail.com
