Kevin Lerena after Serhiy Radchenko knockout victory: 'I can beat anyone'
KNOCKOUT Kevin Lerena triumphed with a dominant knockout victory over Serhiy Radchenko in Pretoria, defending his WBC Bridgerweight title and hinting at another big fight ahead. Picture: Alexius van der Westhuizen
Image: Alexius van der Westhuizen
Following his knockout victory over Ukraine’s Serhiy Radchenko in his WBC Bridgerweight title defence in Pretoria on Thursday, South Africa’s Kevin Lerena says there’s another big fight on the horizon.
Lerena dominated his opponent from the second round in the fight titled The Reckoning organised by Legacy Boxing, when he floored Radchenko three times. To Radchenko’s credit, though, he got back up every time, even after he was strewn flat on his back the second time he was knocked down.
At a packed Sunbet Arena at Time Square, though, Lerena showed no mercy, in the third round, he let loose once more and this time when Radchenko fell to the canvas, his camp threw in the towel.
In the lead-up to the fight, the 32-year-old Lerena talked up his ability, saying he was a ‘different beast’ and this his victory would be guaranteed, and he backed up those fighting words on the night.
Kevin Lerena Pays Tribute to SA Boxing Legends After WBC Title Defence
“After 14 months of no fighting, I used this as they’re trying to take food off my kids’ table. Nobody is going to do that,” Lerena told SuperSport after the fight.
“When I turn up, I beat anyone. Heavyweights, bridgerweights … I got a call two days ago for a possible big fight. Let’s go, baby!”
Lerena went on to pay homage to the SA boxing legends of the past, Dingaan ‘The Rose of Soweto’, Thobela, and Thulani ‘Sugarboy’ Malinga, as it was the first time a WBC title was defended on home soil by a champion.
“It’s an absolute honour. The previous champions, the late Dingaan Tobela, Sugarboy Malinga, it’s an absolute honour to be mentioned with those legends. I would never have thought that, but we’re here now. I don’t know what’s next, but I’ve got the victory, so I’ll take a couple of days off.
“I put them on notice now!”
Lerena’s trainer, Peter Smith, heaped praise on his fighter while paying tribute to UFC champion Dricus du Plessis, who attended the bout.
“I said to Kevin, you have to make a statement. The world is watching. And they saw. The precise movements we’ve been working on, day in, day out, are what have led to this result,” said Smith on SuperSport.
“People have been waiting for this. You have guys like Dricus [Du Plessis] who raise the flag for South Africa. You’ve got Kevin who is raising the flag.”