Undefeated Nigerian boxer Lateef ‘Power” Kayode will battle fellow unbeaten Luis Ortiz for the vacant interim WBA World Heavyweight title on Thursday, September 11.
Kayode Power, 31, who took his heavyweight bow last December in a second round TKO win over American journeyman Travis Fulton, has quickly set his focus on the interim title evacuated by Russia’s Aleksander Povetkin on October 5, 2013.
The winner of the fight could in theory move a step closer to a showdown with world Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko.
In his recent fight,Kayode stopped America’s Jonte Willis in the sixth round of action on January 10, 2014, while Ortiz beat veteran Monte Barrett back in March.
The WBA Championships Committee has as well passed a resolution to allow Cuba’s number 2-rated Ortiz, 35, officially contend for the title, which in the past had been won by Mohammed Ali, Wladimir Klitschko, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield.
Kayode is currently ranked fifth in the WBA ratings with a fight record of 20-0; 16 KOs, while Ortiz maintains 21-0; 18 KOs record.
Trained by the legendary Freddie Roach, Power, currently holds the WBO, NABO and NABF Cruiserweight Championship belts and will look to add the WBA heavyweight belt when both fighters meet at the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas next month.
The fight is however subject to change, if Golden Boy Promotions- marketers of Ortiz- furnishes the WBA committee with an official request for sanctions.
Good news for the country, coming on the heels of the successful outing of Team Nigeria at the just concluded XX Commonwealth Games in Scotland..