LAS VEGAS, NV (July 31, 2008) Deandre “THE BULL” Latimore, fresh off his ESPN2 televised devastating knockout of Sechew Powell on June 11th, has moved to #6 in the IBF junior middleweight rankings. “It’s a nice start” said manager Jerry Giuliano. “Numbers 1 and 2 they kept vacant so we’d be willing to fight anyone above for the mandatory to the champion Verno Phillips..”
Listed ahead of Latimore, ranked 3 through 5, are former world champion Cory Spinks, former ESPN Prospect of the Year, Joel Julio and undefeated prospect James Kirkland.
While pleased to hear about his placement in the rankings, Latimore was very quick to point out that he was ready to fight Verno Phillips immediately. ‘They can make that fight today and I’m ready. I’ve been training every day at Striking Unlimited here in Las Vegas, getting up at 5:30am to do my running. I’m ready to go,” said the 22 year old St. Louis native.
Highlights of the Latimore/Powell bout can be viewed on YouTube at this link;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANJPpdM67C8
Deandre Latimore, 19-1 (16KO’s) is managed by Jerry Giuliano of Knockout Management and promoted by Steve Smith of Rumble Time Promotions in St. Louis.
Briamah Kamoko hits New York
Ghanaian Light Heavyweight contender Briamah Kamoko (23-0) has joined Team Donadio based in New York. Manager Rory Donadio has joined forces with Kamoko’s Ghanaian manager Yoofi Boham and hopes to bring more contenders over to join Kamoko later in the year. Kamoko is set to make his US debut on the 26th September in Philadelphia on the under card of stable mate Yusaf Mack‘s defence of his NABA title. Kamoko now training under British head coach John Tandy and his Ghanaian coach Carl Lokko as an assistant in New Jersey at the COMBATT Gym in Newark. Mack and Kamoko are hoping to work together to set the Light Heavyweight division alight once again.
Speaking to trainer Tandy he stated Kamoko initially found it difficult to adjust to the new lifestyle but has got his head down and now is working exceptionally hard and is showing improvements on a daily basis. Kamoko stated “I have never worked this hard before, everything is going great I can feel myself improving all the time, Tandy coaches like nobody I have seen before everything is devoted to getting my body and mind into perfect condition, I can’t wait to get into the ring and show the American public what I am all about, back in Ghana the people love me I love to put on a show and get the knockouts, I hope the American people can learn to love me as well.
Kamoko is certainly the crowd pleaser with entertaining ring walks, ring antics and exciting come forward knockout style, he will certainly make an impact. He is currently ranked number 5 in the WBC rankings and is looking to make history and become Ghana’s first Light Heavyweight world champion.