BOXING NEWS - Kevin “Two Guns” Lerena produced a world class display against Youri Kalenga to capture the vacant IBO cruiserweight title at Emperors Palace on Saturday night.
The exciting southpaw survived an early onslaught to prevail via 12-round split decision.
Two judges awarded the fight in his favour – 116-113, 115-113 – while the other had it in favour of Kalenga (117-111).
It was a mature performance by the South African, who boxed smartly on the outside and caught Kalenga repeatedly on the counter during an entertaining fight.
The DRC fighter eschewed basics like the jab in favour of wild hooks and swinging shots, but Lerena’s movement was too slick and his defence too tight for it to have a damaging effect.
Kalenga threw a greater volume of punches, but Lerena was far more accurate and made his punches count.
He rocked the France-based boxer on numerous occasions, but Kalenga’s strength proved telling as he set a formidable pace through the rounds and withstood the attacks.
