Patient Lerena waiting his turn
Own Correspondent
Regarded as the stepson of the more popular heavyweight division, the cruiserweight division will get some shine when eight of its best fighters collide for the ultimate prize in the Super Series.
All four major world champions in Oleksander Usyk (WBO), Mairis Briedis (WBC), Murat Gassiev (IBF) and Yunier Dorticos (WBA) will take on top contenders in what promises to be one of the best boxing contests in ages. The series will anoint the king of the division.
While the eight top dogs are gearing up for battle, one other world champion Kevin Lerena will be watching the proceedings with keen interest hoping to get into the mix. But that will depend on whether Lerena is able to repel the challenge of tough Russian Maxim Maslov for his IBO crown at Emperors Palace on August 12.
Like the participants in the Super Series, Lerena is considered as one of the rising stars in the division and only fell short by a whisker of cracking the nod.
“Yes we thought of throwing Lerena’s name into that series, but then we felt he should first make a name for himself in the world so we opted for this fight,” said his promoter Rodney Berman.
Indeed the 25-year-old, who has lost only once in 19 bouts and managed to avenge – is already turning heads in the talent-laden cruiserweight division.
While Lerena, the “KO Kid”, has age on his side, Maslov, 32, knows that a second defeat in his 21 bouts will likely put him down the pecking order.