Kevin Lerena vs. Sefer Seferi - September 21, 2019

[Ruthless-RKO]

South Africa’s Kevin Lerena will make the next defence of his IBO cruiserweight belt against Sefer Seferi of Macedonia on Saturday September 21 at the Emperors Palace Casino near Kempton Park.

The southpaw Lerena (23-1; 0), who has been fighting as a pro since November 2011, has won the WBF Africa junior-heavyweight, WBC Youth junior-heavyweight, South African junior-heavyweight, WBA Pan African cruiserweight and IBO cruiserweight titles.

He captured the vacant IBO belt with a split decision win over Youri Kayembre Kalenga in September 2017, and has made successful defences of the belt against Dmytro Kucher (points), Roman Golovashchenko (points), Artur Mann (TKO fourth round) and Vasil Ducar (points).

The 40-year-old Seferi (23-2-1; 10) was born in Gostivar, SFR Yugoslavia (now Macedonia), but fights out of Burgdorf, Switzerland. He made his pro debut on May 26, 2007.

He won 19 of his first 21 fights inside the distance, mainly against poor opponents, a number of them with negative records.

On September 17, 2016, he moved up to the heavyweight division to face Manuel Charr (29-4) in a bout for the vacant WBA International heavyweight title and lost on points over 10 rounds, with scores of 98-91, 97-92 and 96-93.

He then won his next two fights against Marcelo Ferreira do Santos (KO fifth roun) and Lazlo Hubert (KO second round) before meeting former WBA/IBF/WBO and IBO heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, who was returning to the ring after being out for 31 months.

In a complete mismatch, Seferi, who was 30kg lighter than Fury, was stopped in the fourth round.

On November 2017 last year, he dropped down to cruiserweight again and fought to a 12-round majority draw against the experienced Firat Arslan (44-8-2) in a clash for the WBO Intercontinental and Global Union world titles.

Even though Seferi is 40 years old, he is superbly conditioned and, with a knockout ratio of 81%, he could extend the champion Lerena over 12 close rounds.

[margaret thatcher]

Lerena has been on a respectable second tier run, but hes been stepping it down lately. This is a total nothing fight. I've been wanting to see him push for a world level opponent.

[Betro09]

Seferi should have a re-match with Fırat Arslan instead - it was a great battle of an old man against an older man.

I think Lerena should knock him out.

[punchoutsb]

I like the Seferi brothers. Tough, no nonsense and no frills. Also, unfortunately, not much talent either.

Should be a decent win for Lerena, and should go the distance.

[dagilechia]

Lerena is a fraud, people overestimate him but a lot didn't even watched him fight. He lost to Kalenga, not sure about Nielsen fight but I wouldn't be surprised if the result was controversial too, and he is also a cheater caught on peds. He will lose to top 10 fighters no doubt.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight week.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I thought Box-ation would pick this up. As they usually do.

I'm guessing we may hear tmoro. Need some boxing on saturday.

[TheBeast]

Saturday 21, September 2019
Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa


cruiser
Kevin Lerena 23 1 0
vs
Sefer Seferi 23 2 1
International Boxing Organization World Cruiser Title

Lerena won by KO