It's a knockout! SA's Kevin Lerena too hot to handle for Radchenko in historic WBC bridgerweight title defence

The Star

02-05-2025

Matshelane Mamabolo | Published 5 hours ago
SUNBET Arena, Pretoria: It was swift. It was explosive. It was vintage Kevin Lerena.
South African boxing's blue-eyed boy lived up to his promise as he 'knocked the sparks' out of Serhiy Radchenko just 16 seconds into the third round, with the Ukrainian's corner throwing in the towel as their boxer took a pummelling in their WBC bridgerweight title fight here in Pretoria on Thursday night.
Lerena had dropped him twice in the previous round, the initial knockdown coming via a sneaky left hook that Radchenko never saw coming on a night when the boxer fondly referred to as Two Guns made history.
This was the first time that a WBC world title – the bridgerweight championship – was defended on South African soil. And Lerena made it extra special alright.
Elevated to the status of champion after Lawrence Okolie vacated the title last year, Lerena knew this was a great opportunity to showcase himself to the world.
Inactive for almost a year, the man from Highlands North in Johannesburg entertained the crowd that included a group of boys from his alma mater KES.
He began the initial stages of the first round tentatively as he always does, but was soon taking charge behind his right jab, forcing Radchenko onto the back foot as he landed the most punches and one roundhouse right to the head.
The two fighters ended the round with a flurry, to the delight of the crowd.
Things heated up in the second as Lerena first sent his adversary landing on his backside on the canvas with that superb left hook.
He went for the kill after the standing eight count, and landed body punches that sent Radchenko down yet again. His attempt to finish him off proved futile as the bell came to the Ukrainian's rescue.
There was to be no surviving in the third round, though, as Lerena dished out severe punishment from the onset, prompting Radchenko's corner to aid their boxer from further beating.
It looked pretty easy for the South African, but the reality is he'd worked very hard and prepared well for the fight, and his delight at the end understandably knew no bounds.
'I told you, 14 months no fighting, they were taking food off my kids' table. But when I turn up, I'm going to beat anyone. It's an absolute honour. The biggest champions – the late Dingaan Thobela, Sugarboy Malinga – it is so good to be mentioned along with those legends,' he said after the fight, in reference to South Africans who held WBC world titles.
He really has entered his name into South African boxing folklore.
And by the looks of things, Kevin 'Two Guns' Lerena is still going to be a superstar for some time to come.
Meanwhile, Obakeng Meletse reports that on the undercard, Tulani Mbenge romped to an emphatic technical knockout win over Emmanuel Mungandjela in their IBO welterweight bout.
Both fighters had been vocal in the build-up, and the SunBet Arena was electric, with thousands in attendance eagerly anticipating what was the second-ranked fight of the night.
The crowd was treated to a 10-round, no-holds-barred contest – at least on paper.
As the opening bell rang, both fighters backed up their words with action.
Mbenge came out aggressively, taking the fight to his Namibian opponent and quickly winning the early exchanges.
Just 36 seconds into the third round, he landed a fully loaded left hook that caught Mungandjela flatfooted.
The devastating shot was enough to bring an abrupt end to the contest, and the Namibian, who came into the fight with high expectations, was left stunned.
The 33-year-old South African, who captured the IBO world welterweight title with a unanimous decision win over Michael McKinson at the Copper Box Arena in London in October 2024, secured his third consecutive victory.
Mungandjela, the reigning Namibian welterweight champion, had entered the bout on a four-fight winning streak, and suffered just his second loss in his last 10 outings.
Meanwhile, Thabiso Mchunu's eight-round contest against Amador Kalonji went the distance, with neither fighter allowing the other much room to operate.
Mchunu, the current South African cruiserweight champion, landed the cleaner, more effective punches and secured a narrow split-decision victory.
The win was Mchunu's first in three fights, and could not have come at a better time.
Having declared his intention to challenge for a world title, the victory sets him on the right path towards that goal.