Kevin ‘2 Guns’ Lerena will be taking on Belgium’s Ryad Merhy at ‘The Eliminator’ Box and Dine Tournament at Emperor’s Palace on Saturday.
FILE: South Africa’s Kevin ‘2 Guns’ Lerena (left) and Belgium’s Ryad Merhy (right). Picture: ryadmerhy/Instagram.
JOHANNESBURG – “I feel good and ready,” says Kevin ‘2 Guns’ Lerena, ahead of his major fight this weekend.
Lerena will be taking on Belgium’s Ryad Merhy at ‘The Eliminator’ Box and Dine Tournament at Emperor’s Palace on Saturday.
A former International Boxing Organisation (IBO) cruiserweight world champion, Lerena has a record of 28 wins in 30 fightsm and former WBA cruiserweight champion, Merhy, has a 31-1 record and 26 knockouts.
The athlete explained to Eyewitness News why he got into boxing: “I’ve always liked fighting, so I channelled my energy the correct way.”
Final Touches pic.twitter.com/JR2TTXdlhh
‘ Kevin Lerena (@Kevlerenaboxing) May 10, 2023
The two former cruiserweight contenders will go toe to toe for 12 rounds to challenge the World Boxing Council (WBC) bridgerweight world title winner.
“I’ve been a world champion seven times, but to this day, the one thing I hate is losing. I don’t like it,” said Lerena.
This could be Lerena’s opportunity to be South Africa’s third WBC champion. Mzansi has produced only two WBC world champions.
READ:
𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴. pic.twitter.com/Oy0RvjvdfQ
‘ Kevin Lerena (@Kevlerenaboxing) May 10, 2023
The first being Thulani ‘Sugar Boy’ Malinga, who won the super middleweight title twice between 1996 and 1998. The second is Dingaan ‘The Rose of Soweto’ Thobela, who won the same title in 2000.
“I would like to see more development and more growth so that fighters don’t have to struggle to earn a living when they start out,” said Lerena on South Africa’s boxing scene.
Lerena, who brings fast hands, fitness and southpaw style, backs the celebrity boxing matches organised by Refiloe Maele Phoolo, better known as rapper, songwriter, and entrepreneur, Cassper Nyovest.
“I think it’s good; they’re creating hype for the sport locally” said Lerena.
In 2022, Lerena fought Daniel Dubois for the WBA regular heavyweight title on a bill headlined by Tyson Fury and Derek Chisora at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Britain’s Daniel Dubois held on to his WBA ‘regular’ heavyweight title after three visits to the canvas to stop South Africa’s Kevin Lerena in the third round on the Fury-Chisora bill in Tottenham.
Dubois was knocked down by a left hook and then seemed to take a knee twice, but somehow turned the fight around and stopped South Africa’s Lerena in the third.
The boxer said his goal was to fight whomever the world champion is – “Because I want to reign supreme.”
Media days ✔️ Talking done ✔️ Saturday night 2 Warriors will go to WAR at Emperors Palace 🥊🏆 Only 1 winner … There is only 50 tickets left after they managed to add in some more space so book your tickets 🎟️ Call African Ring on 061 444 5021 to get the last few 💫 pic.twitter.com/VqOT4km5kB
‘ Kevin Lerena (@Kevlerenaboxing) May 9, 2023
