It has been reported that South Africa’s leading fighter Kevin Lerena could possibly defend his IBO cruiserweight belt at the end of September at a venue to be advised.
The 28-year-old Lerena who made his pro debut on 30 November 2011 has racked up an impressive record of 25-1; 12 with his only defeat coming against Johnny Muller, on points on 15 November 2014.
However, in a return match on 24 April, 2016, he stopped Muller in the tenth round.
According to the IBO website Lerena is scheduled to make the seventh defence of his IBO belt against the No 36 rated Norwegian Kai Robin Havnaa 16-0; 13.
The 31-year-old Havnaa has been fighting as a pro for a little more than five years in compiling a record of 16-0; 13.
In his most recent fight on 16 November 2019 in Oslo he was extended by the Argentinean, Gudin Mariano Angel to win on a split ten round points decision. The scores were 97-94 and 96-94 for Havnaa and 96-95 for Angel.
Havnaa has an 81.25 per cent knockout ratio and could be in with a punchers chance.
However, the always superbly conditioned Lerena must be favourite to retain his belt.
CAMPBELL AND JOYI ALSO IN IBO TITLE FIGHTS
It is also on the cards that South Africa’s Rowan Campbell 24-0; 8 who is rated at No 24 by the IBO could meet Russia’s Evgeny Shvdenko 13-0; 6. The Russian holds the IBO Intercontinental super middleweight title and the fight is for the vacant IBO super middleweight belt.
South Africa’s Nkosinathi Joyi could be defending his IBO minimumweight belt against fellow South African Ayanda Ndulani.
The dates for all these bouts are dependent on when boxing comes out of the current lockdown.
–Ron Jackson / Supersport.com
