By Ron Jackson
South Africa’s Kevin ”Two Guns” Lerena makes his second venture into the heavyweight division when he meets Romania’s Bogdan Dinu for the vacant WBA Intercontinental heavyweight title in a scheduled 12 rounder at Emperors Palace near Kempton Park on Saturday night.
The tournament will be shown live from 19-00 -23.00 on Supersport Variety 3.
Lerena (26-1, 13 KOs) had an outstanding career in the cruiserweight division winning the South African title and the IBO belt, making six successful defenses.
Prior to this fight, Lerena announced that he was moving up to the heavyweight class. He will be having his second fight at the weight, winning on a fifth-round stoppage against Patrick Ferguson in December last year.
The southpaw Lerena has been in outstanding form winning four of his last five fights inside the distance, with the only distance fight against Vusal Ducar, a win on wide points margins.
Lerena will have all the odds stacked against him with the 35-year-old Dinu (20-3, 16 KOs), who has massive advantages in height and weight and a 14-year career in the heavyweight division.
However, Dinu is vulnerable. All his three losses came inside the distance against Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (ko 4), Kubrat Pulev (ko 7) and Daniel Dubois (ko 2).
Despite the physical disadvantages, Lerena will have the edge in speed and age and could go on to box his way to a hard-earned points victory.
UNDERCARD
On the undercard there is an interesting matchup with the exciting young Juan Roux 6-0; 2 defending his South African heavyweight title against Joshua Pretorius 8-5; 5. The vacant African Boxing Union heavyweight title will also be on the line.
The unbeaten Shervantgh Koopman (9-0) defends his South African junior middleweight title against Jamie Webb (6-1).
In two other bouts Shaun Potgieter meets Keaton Gomes over six rounds at heavyweight and in a middleweight contest Phikelani Terence Khumalo faces Mbiya Kanku (DRC).
Billed as Heavyweight Mania the tournament is presented by Golden Gloves Promotions.
One of South Africa’s top boxers. Just not sure if Kevin will be able to be a proper heavyweight, he just does not have the size. But let’s see. All the best Kevin. Will be watching.
When I hear South African, southpaw I automatically think of Corrie “the sniper” Sanders, RIP. If this guy has half the pop Sanders had in his left hand Dinu is in for a world of hurt.