On Friday, May 29, in a card aired live on CBS Sports Network from the WC Handy Pavilion on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee, Lateef “Power” Kayode (20-0, 16 KOs) returns to the ring as he faces once-beaten “Slick” Nick Kisner (14-1-1, 5 KOs). In the co-main event, promising WBO #10 lightweight Josh King of Australia will make his US television debut in a regional title fight against Batesville, Arkansas’ Rogelio Casarez (9-3, 4 KOs).
Also featured in televised action that night will be women’s superstar Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (23-1-1, 18 KOs) in a super featherweight showcase, as well as super middleweight Derrick “Take It to The Bank” Webster (18-0, 9 KOs) putting his undefeated record on the line.
Tickets for “Championship Boxing” are priced at $20 General Admission and $30 VIP and are available by calling 901.900.2236.
32-year-old Lateef Kayode was born in Lagos, Nigeria but resides in California. Known for his immense strength and punching power, Kayode has been a top contender at 200 lbs for many years and is the current WBO-NABO and NABF Cruiserweight Champion. He is trained by four-time Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach. Kayode has also held the WBA-NABA Cruiserweight Championship. In 2013, Kayode fought to a draw with multiple world champion Antonio Tarver.
A naturally fluid boxer with superb skills, 24-year-old Nick Kisner hails from Baltimore, Maryland. As an amateur, and among countless distinctions, Kisner was a three-time National Silver Gloves Champion and Ringside World Champion. He holds the distinction of being the youngest boxer in American history (17) to ever win a Men’s National Title in the Heavyweight Division. As a professional, Kisner’s two losses are a controversial draw in the opponent’s hometown and a split decision loss to fellow top prospect Junior Wright in Wright’s hometown of Chicago.
29-year-old Josh King is from Townsville, Queensland, Australia. As a professional, he has already held the Australian Super Lightweight and WBF World Super Lightweight titles and is the current WBO Oriental Lightweight and WBO Asia Pacific Lightweight Champion. As an amateur, King was 50-15 and a five-time Australian and five-time Golden Gloves Champ, among many distinctions.
26-year-old southpaw Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (23-1-1, 18 KOs) is a former Staten Island amateur champion, New York City Golden Gloves amateur champion, and Empire State amateur champion. She turned professional in 2009 and has already won the NABF Featherweight, Universal Boxing Federation World Featherweight, Women’s International Boxing Association World Featherweight, IBF World Super Featherweight, Universal Boxing Federation InterContinental Super Featherweight, and WBO World Lightweight Championships. She is currently ranked # 1 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF), #2 by the World Boxing Association (WBA), and in the World Boxing Council (WBC) is ranked #5 at the featherweight.
Throughout his pro career, 32-year-old southpaw Derrick Webster has trouble finding opponents. At 6′ 4″ the towering super middleweight with the heavyweight reach is a handful for anyone in the world. Webster has worked as a sparring partner for former WBC and IBO Light Heavyweight Champion Jean Pascal, Super Middleweight Champion Andre Ward, Roy Jones Jr., Bernard Hopkins, light heavyweight king Sergey Kovalev and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
“It’s great to be back in Memphis, working with my good friends Brian and Russ Young,” said Greg Cohen. “This will be a world-class event, featuring a mix of championship contenders and local talent. The card will be stacked from top to bottom with action-packed bouts that will have the crowd on Beale Street energized all night long. This is a truly special event and I couldn’t be more pumped!!”