Latest news with #Okolie
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Wembley title shot, and a hefty payday, were too good to turn down for outclassed Kevin Lerena
Kevin Lerena, pictured during his bout with Lawrence Okolie at Wembley, endured a punishing points defeat but retained his WBC bridgerweight title. Photo: AFP Image: AFP The prospect of stepping into the ring in front of a staggering 90 000 fans at the famous Wembley Stadium, on the undercard of the Oleksandr Usyk–Daniel Dubois showstopper, must have been an irresistible opportunity for South African boxer Kevin Lerena. The allure of such a grand occasion — coupled with the chance to showcase his skills on a monumental stage — likely played a major role in his decision to accept the fight. However, the challenge posed by British heavyweight Lawrence Okolie, who boasts an impressive record of 21 wins and just one defeat, proved to be a daunting one. Many questioned the wisdom of Lerena's camp in taking the bout, especially given Okolie's proven pedigree in the ring. As the contest unfolded, it became evident that Lerena faced an uphill battle. In a disappointing outcome for the 33-year-old, he suffered a comprehensive shut-out loss over 10 rounds in their clash for the WBC silver heavyweight title. Okolie dominated the fight, with the judges scoring it emphatically in his favour: 100-90, 100-90, and 99-91. The decisive verdict underlined Okolie's superiority and highlighted Lerena's struggles to find his rhythm against the rangy Brit. The result sees Lerena's professional record slip to 31 wins, 4 defeats, and 15 knockouts. Despite the setback, there was some consolation for the South African, who walked away with a significant payday from the Wembley bout. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Importantly, Lerena still holds the prestigious WBC bridgerweight world title — a reminder of his capabilities and remaining potential in the sport. This loss may yet serve as a valuable learning experience as he looks to regroup and refine his approach for future challenges. In the headline act, Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk reaffirmed his place among boxing's all-time greats with a commanding fifth-round stoppage of Daniel Dubois. The win confirmed Usyk's status as a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion. Usyk, 38, produced a boxing masterclass, overwhelming Dubois with footwork, timing, and clinical precision. From the opening bell, he dictated the pace, leaving the British challenger struggling to assert himself. In the decisive fifth round, Usyk landed a punishing combination that floored Dubois for the first time. Though the Brit managed to beat the count, he had little time to recover before another heavy shot sent him down again — this time for good — as the referee reached ten. The performance solidified Usyk's legacy and denied Dubois the chance to become the first British fighter to unify the heavyweight division in the four-belt era.
The South African
2 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Kevin Lerena handed heavyweight boxing lesson at Wembley
British boxer Lawrence Okolie passed his most significant test at heavyweight on Saturday night, comfortably outpointing Kevin Lerena over 10 rounds – though it was a performance unlikely to send shockwaves through the division. The former WBO cruiserweight champion extended his record to 22-1 (16 KOs) with a unanimous decision win (100-90 x2, 99-91) in a bout where his physical advantages – height, reach, and weight – did the bulk of the work. But in front of a 60 000-strong crowd at Wembley Stadium, the fight failed to catch fire. Okolie, now campaigning at heavyweight and ranked No 1 by the WBC, looked composed and effective but uninspired. He controlled the range with a stiff jab and peppered Lerena's midsection with long right hands, but rarely stepped into top gear. The South African southpaw, known for dropping Daniel Dubois three times in a previous clash, struggled to close the distance and land anything meaningful. He had a brief moment of success in round six with a left hook, but for most of the night, he was kept on the outside and smothered whenever he got close. Even Okolie seemed aware of the slow tempo. In round nine, he glanced at the big screen during a clinch, checking the clock. Lerena tried to provoke a firefight in the 10th by pointing to the canvas and calling for a toe-to-toe exchange – but Okolie declined, opting for safety over spectacle. Okolie's clean sweep on the scorecards reinforces his position among the next tier of heavyweight contenders under the Queensberry banner, but the lack of aggression or ambition in this performance may leave fans and potential opponents unimpressed. Despite being heavier than during his cruiserweight title run – up by around 60 pounds – Okolie still moved well. However, his punch volume and risk-taking remain issues, particularly if he hopes to challenge elite heavyweights like Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua. The 31-year-old had previously been scheduled to face Richard Riakporhe in April but withdrew due to injury. That fight, now delayed, still looms as a potential domestic blockbuster. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Lacklustre Lerena loses to Lawrence Okolie by unanimous decision
A lacklustre Kevin Lerena was comprehensively outboxed by Englishman Lawrence Okolie at the Wembley arena in London on Saturday night, losing a lopsided unanimous decision. Two judges didn't give Lerena a round, scoring the bout a perfect 100-90 for Okolie, while the third gave the South African one round at 99-91. Okolie's record improved to 22 wins and one defeat, while Lerena, the WBC bridgerweight champion, dropped to 31-4. As a heavyweight campaigning internationally, Lerena has lost three out of three abroad, having been stopped in 2022 by Englishman Daniel Dubois and outpointed by Australian Justis Huni in 2024. Lerena was never in trouble against Okolie, but he surely went to the ring with more than survival on his mind. Okolie controlled the first round, pressing the action against a fighter who looked tentative and seldom initiating the action.
The Star
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Kevin Lerena all geared up to face Lawrence Okolie in heavyweight showdown
KEVIN LERENA is 'ready to rumble' and Lawrence Okolie better be prepared for the toughest night of his fighting career. The darling of South African boxing makes a return to the heavyweight division a much smarter, stronger and hungrier fighter than he was when he traded punches with Daniel Dubois and ended on the bottom of his pants. Currently the WBC bridgerweight champion, Lerena will next Saturday contest the WBC Silver Heavyweight title against the explosive Okolie who - like the South African – previously held the cruiserweight world championship. The fight will be on the undercard of the second installment of the Ulsyk and Dubois battle for the undisputed world heavyweight title at London's Wembley Stadium. "Two Guns", as Lerena is affectionately known, leaves for England today in high spirits he will bring back the title. 'I'm ready, we've done all the work we can and I am in the best possible shape and all that's left is to go out there and execute,' Lerena said during a telephonic interview. He knows he's in for one helluva fight though. 'He's a solid guy,' he said of Okolie. 'He has just one loss and a good knockout ratio (16 of his 21 victories were within the distance). "So I know it is a tough competition; the guy has Olympic pedigree and he has just come off a good victory in his last fight. "He is a former Cruiserweight champion like myself and we both want to be heavyweight champs. So, it is a crossroads and we now have to fight.' And fighting is something Lerena does very well. While for this fight the stats would seem to favour Okolie who is heavier, has a bigger reach and a higher knockout ratio, the man they fondly refer to as Two Guns has sent many such to sleep in the past. And he intends to do exactly the same to Okolie. "Looking at his resume, he's only fought one name which you can put a cross to - and he lost that one. Chris William Smith is the only big name he has fought. 'I am no stranger to the big stages and no stranger to the big names. But on the night all that is irrelevant, let's see how it goes.' Lerena, as he always does for all his fights, is planning an early night. 'I've gotta go in there and maul him. It has to be a knockout. I can't go in there trying to outbox a very good boxer. I need to be explosive. I am not going in there to win a boxing match against a guy who is six-foot-six and has a long jab and a long right hand. I have to dim his lights.' From a young age, Lerena has dreamt of being a world champion, inspired as he was by seeing the likes of Corrie Sanders shining on the sport's biggest stage. 'This is an opportunity to put myself on the biggest stage in the world. This is my chance to realize the dreams I nursed as a young man.' And he is not going to let it pass him by. He learnt from his defeat by Dubois three years ago when he knocked his adversary three times in the first round only to be knocked out in the third. 'For me it is purely due to the will and the desire, this is where I was destined to be, the big glare of the sport of boxing is in the heavyweights and I want it.' Though talented, Lerena has worked very hard on his craft – hence the success he has enjoyed. And unlike many boxers or sportsmen in general, the success has not made him lazy or big-headed. Far from it, it has made him work all the harder to stay up there. 'I live a clean life, and when it comes to work ethic and dedication, no one can beat me. Also, the opportunities I've been given, I've not squandered.' And he is not intending to squander this one coming up at Wembley next weekend.
IOL News
11-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Kevin Lerena all geared up to face Lawrence Okolie in heavyweight showdown
KEVIN LERENA is 'ready to rumble' and Lawrence Okolie better be prepared for the toughest night of his fighting career. The darling of South African boxing makes a return to the heavyweight division a much smarter, stronger and hungrier fighter than he was when he traded punches with Daniel Dubois and ended on the bottom of his pants. Currently the WBC bridgerweight champion, Lerena will next Saturday contest the WBC Silver Heavyweight title against the explosive Okolie who - like the South African – previously held the cruiserweight world championship. The fight will be on the undercard of the second installment of the Ulsyk and Dubois battle for the undisputed world heavyweight title at London's Wembley Stadium. "Two Guns", as Lerena is affectionately known, leaves for England today in high spirits he will bring back the title. 'I'm ready, we've done all the work we can and I am in the best possible shape and all that's left is to go out there and execute,' Lerena said during a telephonic interview. He knows he's in for one helluva fight though. 'He's a solid guy,' he said of Okolie. 'He has just one loss and a good knockout ratio (16 of his 21 victories were within the distance). "So I know it is a tough competition; the guy has Olympic pedigree and he has just come off a good victory in his last fight. "He is a former Cruiserweight champion like myself and we both want to be heavyweight champs. So, it is a crossroads and we now have to fight.' And fighting is something Lerena does very well. While for this fight the stats would seem to favour Okolie who is heavier, has a bigger reach and a higher knockout ratio, the man they fondly refer to as Two Guns has sent many such to sleep in the past. And he intends to do exactly the same to Okolie. "Looking at his resume, he's only fought one name which you can put a cross to - and he lost that one. Chris William Smith is the only big name he has fought. 'I am no stranger to the big stages and no stranger to the big names. But on the night all that is irrelevant, let's see how it goes.' Lerena, as he always does for all his fights, is planning an early night. 'I've gotta go in there and maul him. It has to be a knockout. I can't go in there trying to outbox a very good boxer. I need to be explosive. I am not going in there to win a boxing match against a guy who is six-foot-six and has a long jab and a long right hand. I have to dim his lights.' From a young age, Lerena has dreamt of being a world champion, inspired as he was by seeing the likes of Corrie Sanders shining on the sport's biggest stage. 'This is an opportunity to put myself on the biggest stage in the world. This is my chance to realize the dreams I nursed as a young man.' And he is not going to let it pass him by. He learnt from his defeat by Dubois three years ago when he knocked his adversary three times in the first round only to be knocked out in the third. 'For me it is purely due to the will and the desire, this is where I was destined to be, the big glare of the sport of boxing is in the heavyweights and I want it.' Though talented, Lerena has worked very hard on his craft – hence the success he has enjoyed. And unlike many boxers or sportsmen in general, the success has not made him lazy or big-headed. Far from it, it has made him work all the harder to stay up there. 'I live a clean life, and when it comes to work ethic and dedication, no one can beat me. Also, the opportunities I've been given, I've not squandered.' And he is not intending to squander this one coming up at Wembley next weekend.
