Exclusive: Kevin Lerena Training ‘As If He’s Broke’ Ahead of WBC Title Defence

As Kevin Lerena prepares to defend his WBC bridgerweight title against Serhiy Radchenko on May 1 in Pretoria, he is determined to make his country proud in what will be a historic event for South Africa.

The fight will take place at the SunBet Arena, Time Square, next month and will be the headline bout in a stacked event.

It will be the first time Lerena has entered the ring since his unsuccessful WBO global heavyweight title fight against Australian Justis Huni in Saudi Arabia in March last year.

Lerena, 32, revealed he is quite pedantic when it comes to his preparation for a fight.

Geared Up Lerena 

“I'm excited obviously. It's the first time the WBC World title is going to be defended in South Africa on home soil,” Lerena told SportsBoom.com in an exclusive interview. 

“My preparation has been good. It's been hard prep. As I always train hard, like somebody mentioned in the press, I train as if I'm broke, but that's the mentality."

“I'm working really hard to be successful on the first of May. I've got a tough task ahead of me, Serhiy Radchenko is a good boxer, but I'm excited and I always leave no stone unturned in my training camps and I'm looking to put on a spectacle.”

Bridgerweight is the Ideal Class for Fighters on the Edge of Heavyweight

The bridgerweight category is an interesting one, as it allows fighters who are too heavy for cruiserweight and too light for heavyweight a platform to fight at their ideal weight.

As Lerena explained his ideal weight is on the verge of heavyweight, he even once attempted, unsuccessfully, to drop 10 kilograms in three weeks.

“Look, I mean, yeah, it is crazy. Weight cutting is ridiculous. It's crazy. It's hard. It's not easy, but it's doable. If I had to go down from 101[kgs] to 90[kgs], would I be able to make it? Probably."

“Would it drain my energy? Yes, probably it would, but I'd make the weight if the fight was big enough."

“That's why bridgerweight rate is perfect for me because it's that middle ground between heavyweights and cruiserweight."

“Can I go up to heavyweight? Yes, I can too. So I do have the luxury of fighting three weight divisions at any given time, but it's not easy to make cruiserweight, and cutting weight is a daunting task."

“I'm 6'1", 185, I think, 185 or 186 cm, and I walk around 102, 103, and then I make 101, which is the bridgerweight weight limit.”

South Africa's Boxing Star and His Global Sporting Journey

Lerena has also been something of a flag-bearer for South Africa in boxing, and it has allowed him to rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in the sport.

“The way I've been able to go, the people I've met all around the world, fought at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, training camps with Tyson Fury, being in Floyd Mayweather's training camp in 2015, having relationships with the likes of Floyd Mayweather and Tyson Fury."

“At the end of the day, my whole career has been a highlight for me, so I can't just put one moment, becoming a world champion in cruiserweight, becoming a world champion at bridgerweight, challenging for the heavyweight world title. It's been crazy, been meteoric to be honest." 

The Future of Boxing

The southpaw believes that he also has plenty of time left in his career, and in fact, may just be approaching his peak if, and when, he decides to fight in the heavyweight division.

“For so many years, to be fair, the heavyweights mature late. If you look at Tyson Fury, he’s in his late 30s, [Anthony] Joshua is 37, Artur Beterbiev is in his 40s. So the heavyweight division, you see the guys peaking after the 35s, really."

“But I don't know what's next. I just need to be victorious, and whatever opportunity gets thrown at me, I need to win and be victorious [again]."

“It's a good question always, what's next… and what lies ahead, but I need to focus on the first of May.”

Lerena, unlike many sports stars, did not have a specific idol in the sport. Instead, he has chosen aspects of top fighters which he incorporates into his approach to becoming the best boxer he can.

“To be honest, I've always been inspired by working hard and grinding. I've never really idolised anybody. I must be honest with you. I haven't. I've always been working hard to become a better version of Kevin Lerena."

"And yes, there are people that I've seen and admired the work they do, but I didn't idolise anybody because I think if you take a little bit out of everybody and you make your own self, that's what makes a successful recipe. I've backed myself.”