Relaxed Lerena ready for action
IBO cruiserweight champion Kevin Lerena has arrived in Azerbaijan for his highly anticipated title defence against Roman Golovashcenko tonight. The South African southpaw will be fighting in the country for the first time and according to his promoter Rodney Berman, he is unfazed by the task at hand.
“Kevin is relaxed because he knows what this fight means to him,” Berman said.
“Although he will be fighting in the country for the first time he is not worried by a raucous reception because he knows that in the ring it will be him and Golovashcenko.”
Lerena comes to the fight off a points win in his last bout last month when he beat Ukrainian Dmytro Kucher.
The 26-year-old is fast becoming one of the best fighters in the star-studded cruiserweight division and a win will further cement his status among the elite.
Sporting a single loss (which was avenged) in 21 bouts, Lerena is expected to return home with his world championship belt still safely tucked in his luggage.
However, he will not have it easy as Golovashcenko will bank on home crowd support and the 16-bout winning streak which he has enjoyed since suffering that one loss in 2008.
On paper, both fighters will be evenly matched although the South African has fought better opposition, confirmed by his lofty ratings in the world sanctioning bodies.
Berman is hoping that Lerena wins in order to stand a good chance of making it into the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) if it returns in the cruiserweight division.
“There will be endless opportunities for Kevin if he wins but most importantly he will establish himself as one the stars of the division,” he said.
Despite a stint in rugby, Lerena has taken to the fight game like a duck to water with his southpaw stance often throwing opponents off their stride.
Not an easy boxer to hit since he has incorporated footwork into his arsenal, Lerena is also a good listener in the corner, grasping instructions by his trainer Peter Smith.
“We’re hoping he puts it all together and returns home triumphant,” Berman said.