According to promoter Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions, the WBA and the Nevada State Athletic Commission have a clear duty to his fighter, Lateef Kayode, should interim WBA World Heavyweight Champion Luis Ortiz’s positive post-fight drug test for the steroid nandrolone be confirmed by the NSAC in an upcoming hearing.
The NSAC and WBA, say Cohen, have a duty to his fighter, should Ortiz’s positive result stand at the upcoming hearing and his title be stripped.
“I think it’s only fair that my fighter’s loss be erased by the Nevada Commission. And I believe the WBA should reinstate Lateef to his former position in the ratings and let him fight again for the interim championship against a fighter that isn’t cheating. Lateef earned his place into a title fight and he deserves the chance to compete for it on a level playing field.”
Alternatively, Cohen says the WBA could consider treating the fight as having never happened and moving Kayode into a shot for the “Regular” Heavyweight Championship against current belt holder Ruslan Chagaev.
“The WBA and the Nevada Commission are fine organizations and I’m sure they will remedy my fighter accordingly for this injustice, should it be affirmed. I have complete confidence they will do right by Lateef Kayode.”
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About Greg Cohen Promotions
One of boxing’s premier promotional outfits, Greg Cohen Promotions (GCP) is a well-respected name for staging world-class professional boxing events and promoting elite professional fighters throughout the world.
Founder and CEO Greg Cohen has been involved with professional boxing in various capacities since the late 1980s, honing his craft and establishing himself as a shrewd international boxing businessman.
Distinguished by his ability to spot and develop raw talent, Cohen made headlines for his expert guidance of, among many others, former WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout, who Cohen helped guide from unknown New Mexico prospect to elite pay-per-view level superstar.
In addition to Trout, Greg Cohen Promotions has worked with established names such as former unified and two-time heavyweight champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman (50-8-2, 41 KOs); and all-time-great multiple-weight class world champion James “Lights Out” Toney (74-7-3, 45 KOs).
Current world-rated contenders in the GCP roster include Arash Usmanee, universally recognized as a top-10 super featherweight; former WBA International Middleweight Champion and world-rated middleweight contender Jarrod Fletcher; top-rated featherweight Joel Brunker; Freddie Roach-trained heavyweight Lateef Kayode; Canadian lightweight and TV action hero Tony Luis, currently rated #12 in the WBA; Top 15 IBF and WBA and five-time Irish National Amateur Champion, Dennis Hogan; and Rising Undefeated Welterweight sensation Cecil McCalla.
Greg Cohen Promotions has hosted world-class boxing events in the finest venues throughout the United States and the world and has also proudly provided talent and/or content for several television networks including HBO, Showtime, ESPN, NBC Sports Network, MSG and FOX Sports Net.
