Lerena on a Wembley mission to become SA's next heavyweight champion

KEVIN Lerena steps into the ring for his second ever heavyweight title bout when he squares up to Englishman Lawrence Okolie at the Wembley Stadium tonight.

- MATSHELANE MAMABOLO

South Africa's boxing darling - the WBC bridgerweight champion will be looking to do better than he did against Daniel Dubois back in 2022 when he was sent crashing on his backside on the canvas in the third round, having himself sent his adversary to the deck on two occasions in the first round.

Prior to his departure to London, Lerena oozed confidence and promised to knock Okolie out so he can bring home the WBC silver heavyweight title.

It is a mammoth task but should he be successful, he will put his name on a very short list of South Africans who have held world heavyweight titles.

Lerena could become only the third South African to become a world champion at the top weight and will be following in the footsteps of the late Gerrie Coetze and the man he grew up admiring, Corrie Sanders.

GERRIE COETZEE

The late 'Boksburg Bomber' remains a legend of the sport long after he'd departed.