Top Heavyweight Boxers in the World

South African southpaw Kevin Lerena has competed at cruiserweight, bridgerweight and heavyweight. He won the IBO cruiserweight title against Youri Kalenga in 2017 and defended it against opponents including Dmytro Kucher, Artur Mann and Firat Arslan.

Heavyweight tests

Wins over Bogdan Dinu and Mariusz Wach led to a dramatic meeting with Daniel Dubois at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December 2022. Lerena dropped Dubois three times in the first round but was stopped in the third.

He hurt Justis Huni late in their March 2024 fight in Riyadh, but Huni took a ten-round unanimous decision. Lawrence Okolie also beat him on points at Wembley in July 2025.

Bridgerweight and a cruiserweight return

Lerena’s separate WBC bridgerweight campaign included wins over Ryad Merhy, Senad Gashi and Serhiy Radchenko. Merhy beat him by unanimous decision in their May 2026 rematch in Charleroi, ending his title reign and leaving him at 31–5 (15 KOs).

He is scheduled to face Scott Forrest for the WBC International cruiserweight title at Johannesburg’s Sandton Convention Centre on November 7, 2026, with SuperSport carrying the show. His next assignment is at cruiserweight.