SA champion Kevin Lerena returns to boxing ring against Lawrence Okolie on Dubois-Usyk II undercard

Kevin Lerena is preparing for his return to the ring on July 19, where he will face Lawrence Okolie as part of the undercard for the highly anticipated Daniel Dubois v Oleksandr Usyk rematch at Wembley Stadium in London.

Currently holding the WBC bridgerweight championship, Lerena comes into the fight with an impressive record of 31 victories, three defeats and 15 knockouts (31-3, 15 KOs).

The South African southpaw returns to action following a recent successful defence of his title against Ukraine’s Serhiy Radchenko, whom he stopped just 16 seconds into the third round by knockout.

Lerena and Okolie have been on a collision course for quite some time, and now their long-awaited meeting will finally take place.

British boxer Okolie, who brings a professional record of 21 wins, one loss, and 16 knockouts (21-1, 16 KOs), previously held the bridgerweight title before relinquishing it to pursue his ambitions in the heavyweight division.

Their respective journeys have run alongside each other in recent years.

Lerena originally held the interim bridgerweight belt before being elevated to full champion status, while Okolie opted to make the jump to heavyweight competition.

With the WBC Silver Heavyweight title now at stake, both fighters will be aiming to improve their positions in the highly competitive heavyweight rankings.

Lerena is also widely remembered for his 2022 bout against main-card headliner Dubois, where he managed to knock down the Briton three times before ultimately losing in the third round.

That performance earned Lerena considerable respect, and his return to the UK offers another chance to prove himself against elite-level opponents.

The Lerena v Okolie match-up stands out as one of the more compelling contests on what is already a talent-filled fight card, with both boxers eager to advance towards a world title opportunity in the heavyweight division.

Lerena’s recent activity is part of a growing surge in South African boxing.

Following their success just over a month ago, Aquila Boxing Promotions is set to host another major event, featuring Boyd Allen facing Botswana’s Kagiso Bagwasi for the All Africa Super Welterweight title later this month.

Bagwasi enters the bout undefeated in his professional career, while Allen, who previously competed in MMA, is eager to make his mark in boxing.

With a mixed martial arts record of 16-6-1, Allen has transitioned well into boxing, where he holds a record of 8 wins, one loss and one draw (8-1-1).

After falling short of the same title against Brandon Thysse in October 2020, Allen is hoping for a different outcome this time around.

Looking ahead to the fight, Allen anticipates a tough challenge, but remains determined to capture the belt and set his sights on more titles in the future.

“I know that he’s undefeated as a professional, and I expect it to be a tough fight,” he said. “I will be looking to win the All Africa title and keep it here in South Africa.

“It’s scheduled for 10 rounds, and we’re prepared to go the distance.

“If I manage to win, I would like to challenge for the IBO world title. Winning the intercontinental would put me in a position for that opportunity.”