Former WBC champion Kevin Lerena named SA Sportsman of the Year finalist

Former WBC champion Kevin Lerena has been named as one of three finalists for the prestigious Sportsman of the Year award at the upcoming SA Sports Awards ceremony in Sun City. Competing against golfer Christiaan Maas and swimmer Pieter Coetze, Lerena's nomination reflects the remarkable achievements that have marked his career in 2025.

In a historic moment for South African boxing, Lerena successfully defended his WBC world championship title in 2025, defeating Ukrainian Serhiy Radchenko in a hard-fought third-round bout in Pretoria. This achievement was followed by his ascent to the heavyweight division, where he faced Lawrence Okolie for the WBC Silver Heavyweight title. Despite a tough, competitive 10-round fight, Lerena emerged as the loser on points.

Beyond his boxing prowess, Lerena made a significant impact on the sport by co-founding Aquila Boxing Promotions (ABP). Under his leadership, ABP successfully organized four sold-out events, broadcasting them live on SuperSport.

Currently focused on regaining his footing after a recent setback, Lerena lost his WBC bridgerweight title to Belgian rival Ryad Merhy in late May. This defeat triggered his decision to return to the cruiserweight division, which has a strict weight limit of 90.7kg, down from his current 97kg.

Lerena is set to make his official comeback on November 7 in Sandton after an intense weight-cutting routine. Reflecting on his boxing journey, Lerena expressed his confidence about returning to the cruiserweight division, where he once reigned as world champion for several years. He is determined to reclaim the cruiserweight world title, stating, "I want to become a cruiserweight world champion again because that division has been so good to me."