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Kevin Lerena (born 5 May 1992) is a South African professional boxer. He has held the World Boxing Council (WBC) bridgerweight title since October 2024. Previously, he held the International Boxing Organization (IBO) cruiserweight title from 2017 to 2021.

Professional career

Early career

Lerena made his professional debut against Justice Siliga on November 30, 2011, and won the fight by a second-round knockout. He amassed a 12-1 during the next four years, before challenging Deon Coetzee for the South African cruiserweight title. He beat Coetzee by unanimous decision. He made his first and only title defense against Johnny Muller on April 24, 2016. He won the fight by a tenth-round technical knockout.

Lerena was scheduled to face the one-time WBA World light heavyweight title challenger Roberto Bolonti on June 11, 2016. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 97-93, 97-93 and 96-94.

Lerena was scheduled to face the undefeated Micki Nielsen on October 22, 2016. He won the fight by majority decision. Two judges scored the bout 96-95 and 97-93 in his favor, while the third judge scored it as a 95-95 draw.

Lerena was scheduled to fight Vikapita Meroro on February 4, 2017. He won the fight by a fifth-round technical knockout. Meroro appeared to go down easy, while led fight promoter Rodney Berman to withhold his purse and state: "He quit, plain and simple".

Lerena was scheduled to face Sergio Ramirez on April 23, 2017. He won the fight by unanimous decision, after the eight scheduled rounds were contested. It was the first time in three years that Lerena was scheduled to fight less than ten rounds.

IBO cruiserweight champion

Lerena was scheduled to face Maxim Maslov for the vacant IBO cruiserweight title on August 12, 2017, at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, South Africa. On July 25, Maslov announced his withdrawal from the bout due to a recurring injury. He was replaced by the former WBC Continental cruiserweight champion Olanrewaju Durodola. Durodola later withdrew from the bout as well, and was replaced by the former interim WBA Cruiserweight titlist Youri Kalenga. As Kalenga stepped in on ten days notice, the fight itself was postponed for September 9, 2017. Lerena won the fight by split decision, with two judges awarding him 116-113 and 115-113 scorecards, while the third judge scored it 117-111 for Kalenga. Kalenga threw a great volume of hooks and power punches in the early rounds, which were awarded to him on all three of the judges cards. Lerena was able to rally in the mid rounds however, and did enough to edge the fight in his favor.

Lerena made the first defense of his IBO title against the #13 ranked WBC cruiserweight contender Dmytro Kucher. The bout was scheduled as the headliner of the Emperors Palace fight card, which was held on March 3, 2018. Fight promoter Golden Gloves announced that the winner of the title fight would face Roman Golovashchenko just six weeks later. Lerena won the fight by a wide unanimous decision, with two judges awarding him eleven of the twelve contested rounds, while the third judge scored the fight 117-111 for Lerena.

True to their word, promoter Golden Gloves scheduled Lerena to face Roman Golovashchenko in his second IBO cruierserweight title defense. Lerena entered the bout as the #6 ranked WBC and #4 ranked IBF contender, while Golovashchenko wasn't at the time highly regarded by any of the four major boxing governing bodies. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 116-111, 115-112 and 115-112. Lerena scored the sole knockdown of the fight in the fifth round, dropping Golovashchenko with a left hand, although he was unable to finish his opponent.

In 2018 he tested positive for a banned substance by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association. He was cleared of any wrongdoing by the IBO on February 2, 2019.

Lerena made the third defense of his IBO title against the undefeated Artur ‘Thunder’ Mann. The fight was scheduled for March 16, 2019, to be contested at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, South Africa. Lerena won the fight by a fourth-round technical knockout. He first knocked Mann down twice in the second round, with an uppercut and a flurry of punches. Mann was able to survive the third round, but was stopped by another flurry of punches in the fourth round, with 23 seconds left.

Lerena was scheduled to make his fourth IBO title defense against Vasil Ducar on June 8, 2019. As Ducar was vastly less experienced with only nine fights up to that point, and as he hadn't faced the same level of competition as Lerena, he came into the fight as a significant underdog. Lerena won the fight by a wide unanimous decision, with scores of 120-108, 119-109 and 117-111.

Lerena was scheduled to make his fifth IBO title defense against Sefer Seferi on September 21, 2019, at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, South Africa. The 40-year old Seferi came into the fight as the #30 ranked IBO cruiserweight contender, and was seen as a large underdog. Lerena won the fight by a third-round technical knockout. He landed a left hook to the body, followed by a left hook to the head, which floored Seferi. As Seferi was unable to rise from the canvas, referee Jean Robert Laine decided to stop the fight.

Lerena made his sixth IBO title defense against the two-time WBO title challenger Firat Arslan on February 8, 2020, at the EWS Arena in Göppingen, Germany. He beat the 49-year old by a sixth-round technical knockout. Lerena staggered his opponent with a left hook, and landed a number of unanswered punches, which forced Arslan's corner to throw in the towel.

Heavyweight

Lerena was scheduled to face Patrick Ferguson in a non-title, heavyweight bout on December 19, 2020, at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, South Africa. The bout, as well as the entire card that it headlined, was broadcast on UFC Fight Pass. Lerena won the fight by a fifth-round technical knockout.

Lerena faced Bogdan Dinu for the vacant WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title on March 26, 2022. Lerena captured his first heavyweight title with a fourth-round knockout of Dinu.

Lerena is scheduled to face the one-time unified heavyweight title challenger Mariusz Wach on September 17, 2022, at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, South Africa. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 120–108, 120–108, and 118–110.

Lerena challenged Daniel Dubois for the WBA (Regular) heavyweight title on Dec 3, 2022 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. Both boxers trash talked during the final presser. Dubois weighed 240.25 pounds and Lerena came in at a lean 231 pounds. Although he was knocked down in the first round 3 times, Dubois prevailed and won by 3rd round technical knockout. Dubois was dropped by Lerena's left hand on all three occasions. Dubois still looked hurt going into round 2. In round 3, Dubois dropped Lerena with a massive right hand to the head. Dubois then landed several big uppercuts to put Lerena on the canvas as the bell rang. Referee Howard Foster stopped the fight as Lerena picked himself up from the canvas.

Bridgerweight

Lerena faced the former WBA (Regular) cruiserweight titleholder Ryad Merhy in a WBC bridgerweight title eliminator on May 13, 2023, at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, South Africa. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 118–110, 116–112 and 115–113.

Having been named mandatory challenger, Lerena became WBC bridgerweight champion on 8 October 2024, after Lawrence Okolie vacated the title.

Professional boxing record

References

1. Armit, Eric (5 August 2015). "Card Report: Kempton Park, South Africa: Kevin Lerena vs Deon Coetzee". ringnews24.com. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
2. Mashego, Sabelo (29 April 2016). "Lerena scores KO win over Muller". boksburgadvertiser.co.za. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
3. Hobbs, Lesedi. "Lerena looking at the bigger picture". iol.co.za. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
4. Jackson, Ron. "Tough one for Lerena". supersport.com. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
5. "Kevin Lerena Edges Micki Nielsen: Budler, Van Heerden Win". boxingscene.com. 22 October 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
6. Salazar, Francisco (30 December 2016). "Cruiserweight Kevin Lerena to face Vikapita Meroro on Feb. 4". ringtv.com. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
7. Press Release (9 February 2017). "World ranked Cruiserweight Kevin Lerena stops Meroro in Five". ringnews24.com. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
8. "Lerena a unanimous points winner, but hugely unimpressive against Mexican spoiler". enca.com. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
9. Kgosana, Rorisang. "Determined Kevin Lerena finally gets a title fight". citizen.co.za. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
10. "Nigerian Durodola to replace Maslov as Lerenas opponent". enca.com. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
11. BoxingScene Staff (2 August 2017). "Kevin Lerena vs. Youri Kalenga Clash For IBO Title on September 9". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
12. BoxingScene Staff (10 September 2017). "Kevin Lerena Decisions Youri Kalenga, Captures Vacant IBO Title". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
13. Random Hits (4 December 2017). "Kevin Lerena vs. Dmytro Kucher Showdown on March 3". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
14. BoxingScene Staff (3 March 2018). "Kevin Lerena Outboxes Dmytro Kucher, Retains IBO Belt". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
15. Magasela, Bongani. "Lerena must knock Golovashchenko out". sowetanlive.co.za. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
16. Salazar, Francisco (3 June 2018). "Kevin Lerena drops and outpoints Roman Golovashchenko over 12 rounds". ringtv.com. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
17. Magasela, Bongani (6 February 2019). "IBO Championship Committee clears Kevin Lerena of doping". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
18. Magasela, Bongani. "Kevin Lerena, Artur Mann to shake Emperors Palace". heraldlive.co.za. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
19. Magasela, Bogani (17 March 2019). "Kevin Lerena Takes Out Artur Mann in Four Rounds". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
20. Contreras, Robert Aaron (7 June 2019). "Vasil Ducar Fights for Cruiserweight Title, Three Months After Competing in MMA". roundbyroundboxing.com. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
21. Wainwright, Anson (8 June 2019). "Kevin Lerena dominates Vasil Ducar to win UD in Johannesburg". ringtv.com. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
22. Magasela, Bongani. "Kevin Lerena must prove mettle against Sefer Seferi". sowetanlive.co.za. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
23. Salazar, Francisco (22 September 2019). "Kevin Lerena stops Sefer Seferi in three rounds in South Africa". ringtv.com. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
24. "Firat Arslan verliert gegen Kevin Lerena und verpasst Rekord". stuttgarter-nachrichten.de. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
25. Stumberg, Patrick L. (16 December 2020). "Kevin Lerena vs Patrick Ferguson to air on UFC Fight Pass". badlefthook.com. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
26. Salazar, Francisco (19 December 2020). "Kevin Lerena Stops Patrick Ferguson in Five Rounds To Retain IBO Strap". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
27. O'Hara, Ryan (26 December 2021). "Kevin Lerena To Face Bogdan Dinu On February 26, At Heavyweight". ringtv.com. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
28. Salazar, Francisco (27 March 2022). "Kevin Lerena Decks Bogdan Dinu Three Times, Stops him in Four". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
29. Wainwright, Anson (15 June 2022). "Kevin Lerena Out To Make Heavyweight Statement Against Mariusz Wach". ringtv.com. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
30. Salazar, Francisco (19 September 2022). "Kevin Lerena Marches Forward With Decision Over Mariusz Wach in Kempton Park". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
31. Parkinson, Nick (30 November 2022). "Daniel Dubois: Fight against Kevin Lerena can be launchpad into 'big leagues'". espn.com. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
32. karlfreitag (2 December 2022). "Boxing News: Fury-Chisora, Dubois-Lerena Weights » December 4, 2024". fightnews.com. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
33. Ron Lewis (3 December 2022). "Daniel Dubois Goes Down Three Times, But Blasts Out Kevin Lerena in Third". boxingscene.com.
34. Flood, George (3 December 2022). "Dubois defies disaster and injury to stop Lerena in dramatic defence". The Standard. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
35. Malan, Droeks (7 May 2023). "Kevin Lerena vs. Ryad Merhy Set For 12 Rounds On Saturday". ringtv.com. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
36. Boxingscene Staff (14 May 2023). "Kevin Lerena Decisions Ryad Merhy Over Twelve, Falls in Line For Lucasz Rozanski Title Shot". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
37. "Lawrence Okolie requests heavyweight ranking after relinquishing WBC bridgerweight title". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
38. "Lawrence Okolie Vacates WBC Bridgerweight Title, Will Now Campaign At Heavyweight". The Ring. Retrieved 10 October 2024.

External links

• Boxing record for Kevin Lerena from BoxRec (registration required)

• 1992 births
• Living people
• South African male boxers
• Cruiserweight boxers
• Southpaw boxers
• Boxers from Johannesburg
• White South African people
• South African people of Spanish descent
• 21st-century South African sportsmen