Boxing: Peter Returns this Month, Kayode Ready to “Bring WBA Title Home”

• Sam Peter to return September 27 in Oklahoma City
• The Nigerian Nightmare’s opponent to be confirmed soon
• Lateef Kayode ready to fight Luis Ortiz for the WBA interim heavyweight belt
• Kayode-Ortiz comes Up on September 11 in Las Vegas

Former WBC heavyweight champion Samuel Peter is in line to make his long-awaited return to the ring, after recovering from a calf injury which prevented him from partaking in a prizefighter tournament in June.

Samuel Peter Returns September 27 in Oklahoma City.
Samuel Peter Returns September 27 in Oklahoma City.
Nicknamed the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’, Peter will take part in a big-name boxing event entitled “Rumble on the River” at the OKC Downtown Airpark on September 27- 16 days after the WBA interim heavyweight championship fight between another Nigerian, Lateef ‘Power’ Kayode and fellow undefeated contender Luis Ortiz.

Peter (34-5, 27KOs) is one of the famous names featured in the dual main event promoted by Ivaylo Goztev’s Epic Sports and Entertainment.

Former WBC light middleweight champion Ricardo ‘El Matardor’ and former IBF light middleweight champion ‘Yori Boy’ Campas (102-17-3, 79KOs) will also be in action, all in separate bouts.

All three former champions’ opponents are yet to be confirmed.

It will be the 33-year-old Nigerian’s first fight in three years, after he was overwhelmed by Finnish prospect Robert Helenius in round nine of their bout in Germany.


Kayode ‘Power’ bracing up for WBA title fight

World Boxing Association 5th-ranked heavyweight, Kayode (20-0, 16KOs), has turned preparations for his WBA interim heavyweight championship showdown against Cuba’s No. 2-rated contender, Ortiz (21-0, 18 KOs), up a notch.

The Lagos-born boxer is training at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood under the guidance of six-time Trainer of the Year award recipient, Freddie Roach.


Kayode has won both of his fights since moving up from cruiserweight category, where he holds three belts, and says he will not be intimidated by Ortiz’s size, with his opponent expected to have about three-inch and 20-plus pound of weight advantage.

“He is strong and big. I know that and it doesn’t concern me at all,” Kayode is quoted as saying on FightNews. “I spar a lot of big guys out here and I am used to it.

“I have been doing my job as I know this is a big opportunity. This fight will give me a heavyweight title belt and that will only lead me into bigger fights…

“They say nobody wants to fight Ortiz. Well I am not scared and will be there. I am not scared of anybody.”

On becoming the first Nigerian to win the WBA heavyweight belt, Kayode added: “My people back home will be very happy. For me to come home with the heavyweight championship would be great. I am going to prove to everybody that I am the best and I will bring that title home to Nigeria.”

Kayode-Ortiz is billed for the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas.

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