Boxing News 24/7 Denzil Stone – Atlantic City
Lateef Kayode and Antonio Tarver were due to engage in a timeless youth versus experience duel on Saturday, June 2 but, the Home Depot Center in Carson bout had an edge… as Tarver – an announcer on Showtime – had been openly critical of Kayode’s style, something the latter did not take kindly too. Considering the bad blood, what transpired seemed to be anticlimactic as, in a fight of two halves, neither man emerged triumphant…
(Embedded video above credit – YouTube, ShoSports)
Tarver (29-6-1, 20ko) retained his IBO cruiserweight world title, but may well have relinquished it should he have maintained the sub-standard form he displayed during the contest’s initial going. Kayode (18-0-1, 14ko), commanded authority for the majority of the fight’s first half, forcing the Magic Man into a defensive shell that lacked sparkle and it was only in round five, where Tarver rattled Lateef’s foundations, when he was able to finally gain momentum, finish strong and make a case for a share of the spoils.
Antonio received one score of 115-113, another of 113-115 and one even split of 114-114.
Lateef, dubbed power, scored with straight left hands during the swordsmanship in the early rounds
Tarver battled back, put his punches together from rounds 6-12 and said: “I showed I still had it and won down the stretch”
When the scores were revealed and a tie fight was revealed, neither combatant was satisfied
Kayode was distraught at the draw, exclaiming post-fight that it was clear he won and that everyone could see that
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