By Kevin Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
Photo Credit: Fullview.
Kevin Lerena has never been particularly interested in taking the easy route.
His professional career has been built on difficult choices, unexpected turns and a willingness to test himself against opponents capable of exposing his weaknesses.
On Saturday the 7th of November, he begins another chapter when he faces Scott Forrest for the WBC International Cruiserweight Title at the Sandton Convention Centre.
For Lerena, the return to the division is more than a change of weight. It is a fresh start, and an opportunity to rediscover the division in which he established himself as one of South Africa’s leading fighters. “It’s a new beginning for me in a sense, a breath of fresh air,” he said. “I’m super excited to do what I love.”
The contest headlines Knockout Chaos 3: The Return, promoted by Geraldine Lerena’s and Kevin’s own Aquilla Boxing Promotions and broadcast live on SuperSport. It also brings him up against an opponent he has chosen deliberately.
Forrest was born in Johannesburg but represents Scotland. He arrives with considerable amateur experience, having been a nine -time national champion, competed for Team GB and appeared at the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games, as well as the World Championships.
Lerena could have selected a different opponent. He says three names were put forward, but Forrest was the one he wanted. “They gave us a boxer, a fighter and Scott Forrest,” Lerena explained. “The boxer was an easy win for me; the fighter was a spoiler. Scott Forrest, I said I want him.”
His reasoning was straightforward. He wanted someone who would make him work. “Scott Forrest is a tough competitor. He’s a terrific fighter, and he’s somebody I respect because of the way he fights. He’s a fighting man, and that’s what I want. I don’t want people who are going to try and spoil the show, who are going to be pushovers”.
Forrest shares that assessment of the contest. He expects an aggressive fight between two men who are comfortable exchanging punches. “We’re both fighters, we both love to punch, and neither of us takes a step backwards,” he said. “The only way this is going to go is we’re going to be in there slugging it out.”
It is a demanding assignment for both men. Forrest has been away from the ring since 2020, while Lerena is returning to cruiserweight after his campaign at bridgerweight. Neither expects the other to offer an easy evening.
“It’s going to be a war of attrition,” Lerena said. “It’s who is best prepared, and I believe I’m best prepared. He believes he’s best prepared.”
Lerena’s return follows a career that has taken him through several divisions and some of boxing’s biggest arenas. He challenged Daniel Dubois for the WBA heavyweight title in 2022, knocking the British fighter down three times in the opening round before being stopped in the third. He later faced Lawrence Okolie at Wembley Stadium.
He went on to successfully defend the Bridgerweight title with a third-round TKO against Serhiy Radchenko on May 1, 2025, at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, in front of 8000 fans. This was Kevins last fight in South Africa.
In a rematch against Ryad Merhy, in May earlier this year, he lost by unanimous decision, and with it decided to return to the Cruiserweight division.
Those experiences have not diminished his appetite for the sport. If anything, they have sharpened his understanding of how quickly a career can change.
Lerena spoke openly about the moment after his last defeat when he wondered whether his time in boxing had come to an end. His trainer and long -time confidant Peter Smith, encouraged him to adjust rather than walk away. “He’ll tell me when it’s time to head off into the sunset before it gets dark,” Lerena said. “And it’s not dark yet”.
There is no attempt to disguise his emotional investment. Lerena says he wears his heart on his sleeve and wants to leave the ring knowing he has given everything available to him.
“When you walk away, the chapter is closed, and when you walk away, it’s a closed book,” he said. “I don’t want to go back and open that book and say to myself, what if? What should I have done? What didn’t I do?”
That mindset is central to his approach against Forrest. He is not talking about retirement or looking beyond the immediate challenge. He wants to win, and he wants to do so against an opponent who will demand the best of him.
Lerena is also conscious of the people who have followed him through the highs and setbacks. His supporters, known as the Lerena Army, have become a familiar presence at his fights. He has promised them the strongest version of himself.
“I’m expecting the best version of Scott Forrest,” he said. “I’m going to give you the best version of Kevin Lerena.”
At 34, Lerena knows the value of the opportunity in front of him. He knows that he will need to come out with fire and brimstone. He understands that boxing is a dangerous sport and beast mode will need to be activated on Saturday night.
Speaking exclusively to Fullview, Kevin stated “For me, this is the sport of boxing. I respect the sport so much, and I don’t take this sport for granted. People die in the sport of boxing. It’s a very dangerous sport. So when I go in there, I need to protect myself and make sure I’m doing my utmost best to come out not just as a victor, but to come out alive. So it’s a different switch. I can’t explain it, but I’ve become a different person because I’m fighting for my life every single time”
Kevin Lerena is not looking beyond Saturday night. He knows Forrest is a formidable opponent, and that this could prove a defining moment in his career. But the ambition that has driven him throughout his journey remains firmly intact. As he put it: “Maybe it’s just another opportunity to shoot myself into the stratosphere of greatness, and I want to become Cruiserweight World Champion one more time, and this is a step in that direction”.
The talking is nearly over. Lerena has chosen his opponent, and Forrest is certainly not coming to make up the numbers. As the two fighters have made clear, neither intends to take a backward step.
Now it comes down to two hungry dogs fighting over the bone, with pride, ambition and a championship opportunity at stake. On Saturday night, only one man will leave with his hand raised.