Heavyweight Kevin Lerena drops back down to the division he won world titles in

Kevin Lerena drops back down to cruiserweight

This coming November 7, South African Kevin Lerena (31-5, 15 KOs) will step into the ring at the Sandton Convention Centre to headline “Knockout Chaos 3: The Return,” a crucial card broadcast live on SuperSport where he will jump-start a fresh assault on the global summit of boxing.

At 34 years of age, 'The KO Kid' Lerena has made a drastic yet calculated decision: leaving the heavyweight and bridgerweight divisions behind and dropping down to cruiserweight (90.7 kg / 200 lbs), the territory where he established himself as a monarch and where he feels he has unfinished business.

Following a tough decision loss to Belgium’s Ryad Merhy last May—a bout in which he surrendered his WBC world bridgerweight title—the rugged fighter understood that his true competitive habitat is at 200 pounds.

The process has not been easy. Working his way down from 97 kilograms, Lerena has focused every training session on the scale and on mental discipline, the South African explained, “Dropping back down to cruiserweight is returning to a division where I spent a very long time. I reigned as IBO world champion there for a couple of years, and it is a massive goal of mine to make that weight again,” confessed the pugilist, who affirms he is in optimal physical shape and with a completely positive mindset.

The first obstacle on this comeback trail will not be easy. Currently ranked WBC #5, Lerena’s primary objective is clear: secure a commanding victory to immediately position himself for a title shot.

Kevin Lerena vs Scott Forrest

Standing right in front of him will be the dangerous Scot, Scott Forrest (8-3, 5 KOs).

Born in Johannesburg but representing Scotland, Forrest arrives with a top-tier amateur background: he was a nine-time national champion in his country, competed for Team GB, and saw action at the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games, in addition to participating in world championships.

This attractive matchup between Lerena and Forrest will feature the prestigious WBC International Cruiserweight Championship on the line, a title created during the organisation’s 1986 Annual Convention at the initiative of its lifetime president, Don José Sulaimán.

Ever since its inaugural defense in Bangkok between Raúl Valdez and Rocky Chitalada, this belt has historically consolidated itself as the ultimate stepping stone to a world championship and a window of international exposure for figures chasing the summit of the boxing elite, much like these two warriors.