This Saturday night the event “Four Warned” will take place at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA and four fights will also be televised on Showtime. The main event for the broadcast will be the fight between a man who is both a fighter, as well as a boxing announcer for Showtime, Antonio Tarver (29-6, 20 KOs) and the unbeaten Lateef Kayode (18-0, 14 KOs).

At the Tarver / Kayode press conference back in April, the generally mild-mannered Lateef came out loudly, as he verbally attacked Tarver. He was tired of criticisms that he feels Antonio throws at him every time he announces one of his fights.

We had an opportunity to speak with Lateef at the media workout at Wild Card recently. When asked first about his attitude towards Tarver, Kayode said, “That’s not me. I never talk like that, cuss like that. But I get mad. He never gives me credit for anything. All he does is say, I do this wrong, and I do that wrong. He never says a good thing, only bad.

“I have something to prove,” he told us. “They don’t think I belong, that I’m not good enough. I want to show him (Tarver) that I am good. I’m gonna knock him out! On June 2 I’m gonna show him.”

As emotional as Lateef was, and still seems to be, we questioned whether or not he would be able to control his emotions once he stood across the ring from Tarver. “Emotions for the conference and emotions for the fight are different. You can use them to channel you in the fight.”

As any fighter, Kayode has a plan in his head as to how the fight will go. We wondered if he was looking for a knockout.

“No,” he responded. “I’m not looking for a knockout. The reason that I say I will get the knockout is because I’m in the best shape of my life. I’m very strong and I don’t feel he can be in shape like me. So what’s he gonna do?

“I have been in camp a long time. We started early for this fight. By the time the fight comes it will be three months. There is nothing he can do to hurt me. I’m not gonna lose this fight. I’ve had a strength coach for about three months now. I’m training good, I’m in good condition, everything’s going well.”

When it was mentioned that he looked to be in good shape at the conference several weeks ago, he replied, “That’s nothing! I’m better now. Look at him! Look at me! We’re both smart, but I have more motivation. There is no way he can scare me. And I have nothing to lose. If I lose the fight – I won’t, but if I lose the fight, I got to fight Tarver.”

Kayode is very aware of all that he has given up to get where he is today. And he is more than ready for this opportunity to up his stock. He is confident but not cocky, just ready to prove once and for all that he deserves respect, and keep that unbeaten record intact while he’s at it.

Don’t miss the fights this Saturday night. Tickets can be purchased through AXS.com or by calling 888.929.7849. You may also go through the Home Depot Box Office. The tickets range from $50 to $200. If you can’t be there in person, check out Showtime for all the action, 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific time. Also on the television card is Winky Wright facing Peter Quillin, Austin Trout against Delvin Rodriguez, and Leo Santa Cruz matches wits with Vusi Malinga.

And two more things before this is finished. The first sends thoughts and prayers to Paul Williams following his tragic motorcycle accident. Secondly, R.I.P., Johnny Tapia. This has definitely been a sad week for boxing.


Be safe and God Bless,
Viva La Raza,
Barb.