By Kevin Rademeyer.
By all accounts, Kevin Lerena is no stranger to big moments, and on 19 July, the South African southpaw steps into yet another, squaring off against Lawrence Okolie on the blockbuster undercard of Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois II at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium.
This 12-round clash for the WBC Silver Heavyweight title is more than just a high-stakes encounter, it’s a redemption arc, a rivalry rekindled, and a bold statement for both fighters as they chase heavyweight glory.
Lerena (31-3, 15 KOs), the reigning WBC Bridgerweight Champion, returns to the UK with unfinished business. Fans still vividly recall his dramatic 2022 showdown with Daniel Dubois, when he dropped the British powerhouse three times in the first round before a controversial third-round stoppage. That performance, though ending in defeat, catapulted Lerena into the international spotlight and earned him widespread respect.
Fresh off a dominant third-round knockout of Serhiy Radchenko in May, Lerena steps up again—just two months later—to face Okolie in a bout that was years in the making. The two were once on a collision course in the Bridgerweight division, before Okolie vacated the title to pursue heavyweight opportunities.
Now, Okolie (21-1, 16 KOs), a former WBO Cruiserweight World Champion and one-time WBC Bridgerweight titleholder, looks to assert himself as a serious heavyweight contender. He made his debut in the division last December, dispatching Hussein Muhamed with a first-round knockout. But Lerena presents an entirely different level of challenge: experienced, durable, and dangerous.
The stakes? A potential launchpad into the crowded world title scene. With the WBC Silver belt up for grabs, this isn’t just a ranking fight, it’s a proving ground. This bout also marks a significant moment for South African boxing, which is enjoying a resurgence on the global stage. Lerena, one of the country’s standout athletes, will look to carry that momentum under the lights of Wembley.
And what a card it is. Headlined by the rematch between unified champion Oleksandr Usyk and IBF belt-holder Daniel Dubois, this fight night is brimming with intrigue. Their first encounter, held in Poland last year, ended in ninth-round fireworks—but not before a body shot knockdown by Dubois that split opinion around the boxing world.
Elsewhere on the card, British and Commonwealth Light-Heavyweight Champion Lewis Edmondson (11-0) takes on Usyk’s undefeated protégé Daniel Lapin (11-0), adding another layer of international flavour to an already stacked event.
For Lerena, this bout is more than a title eliminator. It’s a homecoming of sorts, a return to the UK, a chance to finish what he started against Dubois, and a golden opportunity to stamp his name among the sport’s elite. If he can overcome the towering Okolie, the door to a heavyweight world title shot swings wide open.
The lights of Wembley will shine. And on 19 July, Kevin Lerena will once again walk into the lion’s den, this time not to survive, but to conquer.