KAYODE-TARVER GRUDGE MATCH ENDS IN A DRAW
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 03 Jun 2012
Billed as a grudge match after IBO cruiserweight champion Antonio Tarver made what his opponent Lateef Kayode considered insulting remarks on television, the title showdown didn?t provide the fireworks fight fans had expected and petered out into a split decision draw.
The title fight at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California was telecast on the sports channel Active or AKTV over IBC 13 on the weekly program ?Big Time Bakbakan? beginning at 12:00 noon.
Kayode was the more active fighter in the early stages of the fight often connecting with straight rights to the head but Tarver got into his rhythm in the fourth round and came back with solid lefts to the head.
The middle rounds in the twelve round bout were pretty even but Tarver cracked Kayode with a good combination in the 9th round that stunned the Nigerian who now fights out of Hollywood and trains at Freddie Roach?s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
While the champion Tarver moved around looking for an opportunity to unload his punches were few and far between while Kayode looked for a chance to counter.
Judge David Denkin scored the fight for Kayode 115-113 while judge Max De Luca scored it for Tarver by an identical 115-113 margin and Dave Moretti had it even at 114-114 resulting in a split decision draw.
Tarver who retains his title goes to 29-6-1 with 20 knockouts while Kayode keeps his unbeaten record at 18-0-1 with 14 knockouts.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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