The two former cruiserweight contenders will dance in the ring for 12 rounds for the chance to challenge the winner of the World Boxing Council (WBC) bridgerweight world title.
South Africa’s Kevin ‘2 Guns’ Lerena (left) and Belgium’s Ryad Merhy (right). Picture: ryadmerhy/Instagram.
JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s 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.
The two former cruiserweight contenders will dance in the ring for 12 rounds for the chance to challenge the winner of the World Boxing Council (WBC) bridgerweight world title.
This could be Lerena’s opportunity to be South Africa’s third WBC champion. Mzansi has produced only two WBC world champions.
FIGHT WEEK!#WSB ambassador @Kevlerenaboxing journey to WBC bridgerweight glory begins when he takes on Ryad Merhy in the “Eliminator” this Saturday #LerenaMerhy
Also Josh Pretorius and Keaton Gomes clash for the heavyweight title.
🥊EXCLUSIVE ODDS: https://t.co/N7NOol5Owq pic.twitter.com/fMn20wCVQk
‘ World Sports Betting (@WorldSportsBet) May 8, 2023
The first being Thulani ‘Sugar Boy’ Malinga who won the supermiddleweight title twice between 1996 and 1998. The second is Dingaan ‘The Rose of Soweto’ Thobela, who won the same title in 2000.
Lerena, a former International Boxing Organisation (IBO) cruiserweight world champion, has a record of 28 wins in 30 fight and former WBA cruiserweight champion, Merhy, has a 31-1 record and 26 knockouts.
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.
‘ Kevin Lerena (@Kevlerenaboxing) May 7, 2023