This evening in Saudi Arabia, Kevin Lerena will compete against Justis Huni of Australia in a heavyweight match.
This coming weekend in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Kevin Lerena (32-30-2) of South Africa will square off against Justis Huni (8-0) of Australia in a 10-round fight. The main event is scheduled to feature an epic fight between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou, a former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) star. It is an undercard fight.
Lerena, who defeated Germany’s Senad Gashi via points decision at Kempton Park in November of last year, is expected to enter the ring in Riyadh in strong shape.
With the victory, the South African was able to take the interim bridgerweight title from the World Boxing Council (WBC) and leave Emperors Palace. On this occasion, though, Lerena will be competing against a full-time heavyweight opponent in the heavyweight class.
Huni, who is 24 years old and seven years Lerena’s junior, has the advantage over Lerena in terms of size and strength despite having only engaged in eight professional fights.
But the South African southpaw is confident that his training and preparation for the fight will be sufficient to win.
Lerena declared, “The only way [Huni] can beat me is if he proves superior on the day, in the ring.”
“I have no doubt that I have put in the time, energy, and preparation necessary to succeed. All that matters are the ten rounds and the two guys that enter the ring, and I’m prepared for combat.”
Lerena has been training with British boxing veteran and current WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia ahead of their battle. The two have shared sparring sessions.
Enhancing my mobility and explosiveness is a critical component of my training program that I’ve committed myself to improving as I get ready for the fight, Lerena added, making sure I’m ready to take advantage of any opportunity in the ring.
“I’ve sharpened my abilities and pushed my boundaries over the course of my eight demanding weeks of training camp to get ready for the next challenge.”
Joshua versus Ngannou
Ngannou, who has fought primarily in mixed martial arts, where he has defeated opponents in the UFC, will be entering the ring for the first time as a professional boxer on Friday night.
In October of last year, he took on Fury in his maiden bout, which he lost by split decision despite stopping his British opponent in the third round.
The Cameroonian stated, “The mindset is still the same, but I have learned a little bit from the last fight, the last camp, and leading up to this one.”
“Even though I’m facing the two greatest boxers in the world, this is only my second fight.
“I am the underdog, and I’m going to show you that it’s possible to be the underdog and still hold your ground.”
In contrast, Joshua (30-27-3) has been boxing professionally for more than ten years. He won his first significant title in 2013 when he defeated Charles Martin to earn the International Boxing Federation heavyweight championship.
Regarding the bout on Friday, Joshua remarked, “Official prediction? I am the postman; I deliver.
The victor of the heavyweight brawl is most likely to go up against either Oleksandr Usyk or Tyson Fury, who will square off on May 18 in Saudi Arabia for the undisputed heavyweight championship.
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