FIGHTING FIT Kevin Lerena is set to make history as he defends his WBC bridgerweight title against Serhiy Radchenko on May 1st at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, marking the first time the prestigious title is defended on South African soil. Picture: Sunbet & Legacy Boxing Promotions
Image: Sunbet & Legacy Boxing Promotions
As Kevin Lerena prepares to defend his WBC bridgerweight title against Serhiy Radchenko on May 1 in Pretoria, he is resolute in his mission to make his country proud in an historic event for South Africa.
The fight will take place at the SunBet Arena in Time Square next month and will serve as the main event in a stacked lineup.
It will be Lerena’s first time stepping into the ring since his unsuccessful WBO global heavyweight title fight against Australian Justis Huni in Saudi Arabia last March.
Lerena, who is 32 years old, has revealed that he is quite meticulous in his preparation for a fight.
“I'm excited obviously. It's the first time the WBC World title is going to be defended in South Africa on home soil,” Lerena told SportsBoom.co.za in an exclusive interview.
“My preparation has been good. It's been hard prep. As I always train hard, like somebody mentioned in the press, I train as if I'm broke, but that's the mentality.
“I'm working really hard to be successful on the first of May. I've got a tough task ahead of me, Serhiy Radchenko is a good boxer, but I'm excited and I always leave no stone unturned in my training camps and I'm looking to put on a spectacle.”
The bridgerweight category is an interesting one, as it allows fighters who are too heavy for cruiserweight and too light for heavyweight a platform to fight at their ideal weight.
As Lerena explained his ideal weight is on the verge of heavyweight, he even once attempted, unsuccessfully, to drop 10 kilograms in three weeks.
“Look, I mean, yeah, it is crazy. Weight cutting is ridiculous. It's crazy. It's hard. It's not easy, but it's doable. If I had to go down from 101[kgs] to 90[kgs], would I be able to make it? Probably.
“Would it drain my energy? Yes, probably it would, but I'd make the weight if the fight was big enough.
“That's why bridgerweight rate is perfect for me because it's that middle ground between heavyweights and cruiserweight.
“Can I go up to heavyweight? Yes, I can too. So I do have the luxury of fighting three weight divisions at any given time, but it's not easy to make cruiserweight, and cutting weight is a daunting task.
“I'm 6'1", 185, I think, 185 or 186 cm, and I walk around 102, 103, and then I make 101, which is the bridgerweight weight limit.
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