Pretoria, South Africa – Kevin “Two Guns” Lerena made a thunderous return to the ring last week with a clinical third-round knockout of Ukrainian challenger Serhiy Radchenko, successfully defending his WBC bridgerweight title in front of a raucous home crowd at SunBet Arena. The emphatic performance reaffirmed Lerena’s standing as one of South Africa’s premier boxing talents and reignited global interest in his next move.
Having been out of action for 14 months, Lerena wasted little time shaking off any signs of rust. After a tentative opening, the Johannesburg-born southpaw took control, dropping Radchenko twice in the second round before his opponent’s corner threw in the towel just 16 seconds into the third. The victory marked the first WBC world title defence to take place on South African soil—a milestone Lerena embraced with pride.
“I told you, 14 months no fighting, they were taking food off my kids’ table. But when I turn up, I’m going to beat anyone,” Lerena said post-fight. “It’s an absolute honour. The biggest champions – the late Dingaan Thobela, Sugarboy Malinga – it is so good to be mentioned along with those legends.”
With his record now standing at 31 wins and 3 losses from 34 professional bouts, Lerena’s statement performance has made one thing clear—he is ready for the biggest names in the division.
And the options are plentiful.
Immediately after the bout, Lerena called out British heavyweight Fabio Wardley, throwing down the gauntlet to both “bridgerweights and heavyweights” alike. A fight with Wardley, a rising British star, would be an enticing clash of power and personality. Lerena’s camp is reportedly keen to secure a bout of international magnitude, and Wardley fits the bill.
But there’s more. On the WBC bridgerweight title path, veteran Krzysztof Włodarczyk and fellow Pole Adam Balski are scheduled to face off in a title eliminator. The winner will become the mandatory challenger to Lerena’s crown. Włodarczyk, a seasoned former world champion with 12 straight wins under his belt, will be seeking to reassert himself at 44. Balski, ten years younger and hungry to redeem himself after a 2022 loss to Alen Babic, could present a fresh challenge.
Perhaps the most tantalising prospect of all, however, is a showdown with former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. Though Wilder has suffered recent defeats and faces questions about his future, Lerena has openly expressed interest in the high-profile bout.
“I’ve always been keen to fight Wilder,” Lerena revealed. “He’ll always be seen as a dangerous, spiteful puncher. I’d be more than happy to give Wilder the opportunity to face me if he’s willing to make the move down.”
While no contact has yet been made with Wilder’s camp, Lerena’s promoter Spencer Brown has been made aware of the interest. Such a bout would be one of the most high-profile of Lerena’s career, potentially attracting global attention and considerable financial backing—particularly if the Saudi Arabian boxing market gets involved.
For now, Lerena is taking a well-earned break. He celebrated his 33rd birthday in Sun City over the weekend, his WBC belt firmly in tow and his name once again echoing in conversations around major international bouts.
Whether it’s Wardley, the Włodarczyk-Balski winner, or even Wilder, one thing is certain: Kevin Lerena has options. And with momentum back on his side, South Africa’s “Two Guns” looks set to fire again before the end of the year in what could be a career-defining showdown.
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