15th June, 2011
Boxing manager and promoter, Elum Onyeka has praised the feat of Nigerian boxer, Lateef Kayode, tipping him to rule the boxing world in the near future.
After a disappointing outing in his last bout, undefeated cruiserweight boxer, Kayode (17-0, 14 KOs) completely dominated fringe contender Matt Godfrey (20-3, 10 KOs), dropping him three times en route to an easy 10-round unanimous decision in a WBO bout last weekend. The official scores were 98-90, 97-90 and 98-89 from the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, CA.
Onyeka said “Power†as Kayode is fondly called, would be the next thing that would happen to Nigerian boxers, other things being equal.
In his words: “I’m elated because Kayode won his bout against Godfrey, we should be expecting more from him and I know that he would soon take world boxing by storm.â€
In what was supposed to be the Nigerian’s toughest test to date, Kayode ripped Godfrey to the body and landed straight right hand jabs throughout the fight.
Kayode set the tone in the first round by dropping his opponent with a straight right hand to the chin with about 9 seconds left in the frame.
Kayode kept up the pressure between rounds 2 and 4 by landing hooks and straight rights to the body as well as unleashing some punishing shots to the head, especially when Godfrey was on the ropes.
Godfrey was dropped a second time in round five, this time by a straight right hand to the temple. A left hook to the body dropped him for the third time in round nine, and Kayode finished the final round strong for good measure.
—Adebobola Alawode