Latest news with #KevinLerena
IOL News
01-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Kevin 'Two Guns' Lerena promises to knock Ukranian Serhiy Radchenko's sparks out
Kevin Lerena is fondly referred to as 'Two Guns' in relation to the explosion he carries in both his punches. Photo: David Ritchie/Independent Media Image: David Ritchie/Independent Media Kevin Lerena was calm as he always is in the face of an adversary making feeble attempts at unsettling him. South African boxing's 'blue-eyed boy' stared directly into Serhiy Radchenko as the Ukrainian tried to threaten him during Wednesday's weigh-in for their WBC bridgerweight world title fight at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria on Thursday night. Having just made the weight limit (101.6 is the limit) by tipping the scales at 101.4kg) nearly a good five kilograms more than his opponent over whom he towered, Lerena will be out to give himself a special pre-birthday gift of holding on to his belt. The man fondly referred to as 'Two Guns' in relation to the explosion he carries in both his punches turns 33 in four days' time. As they faced off after the weigh-in, Radchenko could be seen mouthing off at Lerena who remained stone-cold to the challenger's surprise. Eventually the champion got out of face-off mode and the two boxers shared a laugh and a quick embrace before Lerena made his intentions known. 'We've got a fight and I told them (the Radchenko camp) that they are going in there with a different beast. And I promise you, I am going to knock his sparks out,' he said to loud cheers from the Lerena Army. In what is an historic maiden WBC world championship title defence by a South African on home soil, the main bout of Legacy Promotions' 'The Reckoning' promises to once again showcase the superb boxer Lerena is. A former IBO cruiserweight world champion, Two Guns became bridgerweight world champion after the incumbent Lawrence Okoie vacated the title with his move up to the heavyweight division in October last year. Lerena was the interim champion and thus mandatory challenger having beaten Sened Gashi in 2023. He now gets to validate his position with this fight against the silver bridgerweight champion who is on a four-fight winning streak. Lerena is unperturbed as he usually is by the quality of opponent and is focused on delivering the goods and sending his huge support base into celebrations. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The Talking is Done 🤫 Tonight we go to WAR 🥊 Join us at the Sunbet Arena, Times Square Pretoria 🏟️ Catch all the action live on Your World of Champions Supersport channel 209 across the Sub-Saharan Africa 🇿🇦 and stream it live on DAZN worldwide! || @SuperSportTV & @DAZNBoxing — Kevin Lerena (@Kevlerenaboxing) May 1, 2025
The Star
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The Star
SA star Kevin Lerena set for historic WBC bridgerweight title defence against Serhiy Radchenko
FIGHTING WORDS Kevin Lerena (second from left) did not 'pull any punches' in his pre-fight press conference ahead of his WBC bridgerweight title bout at The Reckoning against Serhiy Radchenko in Pretoria. Photo: FARRYN SHERMAN Image: Farryn Sherman Kevin Lerena will take to the heart of the squared circle as he puts his WBC bridgerweight title on the line against Ukrainian fighter Serhiy Radchenko at the SunBet Arena Times Square in Menlyn Pretoria on Thursday night. This will be the first time the South African fighter goes in defence of his title after his interim title earned him the vacant main title, with Lawrance Okolie moving on to the heavyweight division last October. Lerena, no stranger to boxing's biggest stages, was last seen in action just over a year ago in a high-profile 10-round bout against Australia's Justis Huni for the vacant WBO Global Heavyweight title. Despite a valiant effort, the South African fell short via unanimous decision at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Now, with the sting of that defeat behind him, Lerena returns home with his sights firmly set on reclaiming momentum and defending his WBC bridgerweight title. South African boxing has endured a difficult quiet spell in recent years, but Thursday's card offers a much-needed spark. The event boasts a star-studded line-up, with IBO welterweight champion Tulani Mbenge set to co-main event against Namibia's Emmanuel Mungandjela. Meanwhile, veteran cruiserweight Thabiso Mchunu steps back into the ring with hopes of reigniting his own international ambitions in a clash against DRC's Amador Kalonji. With local talent in the spotlight and championship gold on the line, Lerena believes this event could mark the beginning of a resurgence for South African boxing, with some of the country's finest talents getting their deserved exposure. 'Boxing is an easy sport to start,' Lerena told Independent Media ahead of his title defence. 'It was always considered a poor man's sport because you don't need to buy go-karts, you don't need to buy fuel, you don't need to buy expensive boots... 'You just need a pair of gloves and the gym to hit the bag; it doesn't take a lot. 'But don't get me wrong; it takes a lot to become a star. 'But it doesn't take a lot to start, so we have a lot of fighters that come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and they want to start boxing.' Lerena continued to express his support for Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie, saying his impact has come at the right time for boxing in South Africa. 'It's about creating opportunities for people, and that is the key and what I think Gayton McKenzie is trying to do: create a platform. 'There are enough people doing boxing, but just not enough platforms. 'There have been a lot of youngsters, but they just never had the platforms, so hopefully the changes he is making are creating a lot of opportunities.' The well-travelled fighter is widely regarded as the current flag-bearer of South African boxing.
The Citizen
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Kevin Lerena: ‘Special to put WBC title on the line on SA soil'
The popular South African boxer is looking forward to fighting in front of his own fans. Kevin Lerena will be back in the ring on Thursday night. Picture: Supplied Reigning WBC bridgerweight world champion Kevin Lerena said it was an 'incredible feeling' to be able to put his belt on the line on home soil when he does so on Thursday night in a big boxing extravaganza in Pretoria. Lerena will go up against Ukrainian Serhiy Radchenko over 12 rounds in the main bout of 'The Reckoning', which is being held at the Sunbet Arena. This will be the first time a WBC world title will be defended on South African soil – a landmark moment for boxing in South Africa, according to the organisers. 'It's an incredible feeling to defend the WBC world title on home soil,' said Lerena. 'Being the first to do so in South African history makes it even more special, and becoming only the third-ever WBC champion is a huge honour. To be able to do it in front of my home fans and my loyal Lerena Army is truly special, and it's an honour to make history with them.' Radchenko on four-fight win streak Lerena claimed the interim title in November 2023 with a unanimous decision over Senad Gashi and was elevated to full champion in October 2024 when Lawrence Okolie moved up to heavyweight. The bridgerweight division, originally created by the WBC and later adopted by the WBA, sits between cruiserweight and heavyweight with a 224 lb limit (101.6kg). Radchenko (11-7, 5 KOs), ranked fifth in the division, comes into the fight on a four-fight win streak, having recently outpointed 15-2-1 Andrej Pesic in Kiev. At 37, he aims to cause an upset in what promises to be a thrilling clash. Lerena has 30 wins from 33 fights. The fight card includes two thrilling day-time bouts while the co-main event will see Tulz Mbenge go up against Emmanuel Mungandjela over 10 rounds in the welterweight division. The undercard fights will feature Thabiso Mchunu against Amandor Kalonji (cruiserweight), Chris Thompson against Mussa Ajibu (heavyweight), Lindo Khuzwayo against Sthembiso Maduna (featherweight) and Tietsetso Matikinca against Mbulelo Gubula (bantamweight).
TimesLIVE
29-04-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Bold prediction: Lerena, Mchunu, Mbenge to get KOs in blockbuster bouts
Kevin Lerena, Thabiso Mchunu and Thulani Mbenge will celebrate Workers' Day with knockout wins in their international boxing matches at Time Square Casino's Sunbet Arena in Pretoria on Thursday evening. This bold prediction was made by retired KwaZulu-Natal heavyweight champion Alex Mchunu, who remains unheralded as a boxing trainer despite uncovering hidden talent in KwaXimba in Cato Ridge. Among those he has groomed are his sons, Thabiso and Thabo Mchunu; Ntethelelo Magcaba (KZN and ABU Sadc junior bantamweight); Andile Mntungwa (WBF super middleweight) and Nomvelo Magcaba, who has established herself as a top promoter. Lerena will put his WBC bridgerweight belt on the line against Ukrainian Serhiy Radchenko, while Mchunu will welcome Congolese Amador Kalonji over eight rounds. Mbenge's dance partner will be Namibian Emmanuel Mungadjela in a welterweight bout scheduled for 10 rounds.
IOL News
29-04-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Kevin Lerena determined to beat Serhiy Radchenko at The Reckoning – 'Just business'
FIGHTING WORDS Kevin Lerena (second from left) did not 'pull any punches' in his pre-fight press conference ahead of his WBC bridgerweight title bout at The Reckoning, against Serhiy Radchenko in Pretoria. Picture: Farryn Sherman Though the time for big talk is over before The Reckoning, SA's Kevin Lerena has guaranteed he will come away victorious against Ukrainian Serhiy Radchenko in their WBC bridgerweight title bout, at SunBet Arena in Time Square, in Pretoria, on Thursday. Lerena was speaking at his pre-fight press conference in Pretoria on Monday, when he laid out the challenge for his opponent. It will be Lerena's first time stepping into the ring since his unsuccessful WBO global heavyweight title fight against Australian Justis Huni in Saudi Arabia last March. The 32-year-old said while he respected his opponent, it would not change the result.
