South African Kevin ‘Two Guns’ Lerena 30-2 (14) is closing in on a world title shot after defeating Albanian-born German Saned Gashi 27-4 (26) at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, South Africa on Saturday night.
Southpaw Lerena, 31, had too much firepower for fellow lefty Gashi, 33, winning a unanimous decision by scores of 117-110, 114-113 and 118-109.
The victory earned Lerena the interim WBC bridgerweight belt and a shot at full titleholder Lukasz Rozanski 15-0 (14). The Mexican sanctioning body created the new weight class with an upper limit of 224-pounds July 2020. Poland’s Rozanski became the inaugural champion with a first round knockout of previously undefeated Alen ‘The Savage’ Babic 11-1 (10) of Croatia in April.
Former WBC cruiserweight champion Badou Jack 28-3-3 (17) has announced plans to challenge for the bridgerweight title in his bid to become a four-weight world champion. Lerena remains the number one contender for the belt.
“Badou Jack and Rozanski, get your act together because I wanna get it on,” Lerena said in the ring after his win over Gashi.
“Rozanski and Badou Jack have to come to some sort of agreement and all I’m gonna do is keep winning.”
Lerena controlled the fight with his jab and mixed in power punches when the opportunity arose.
“We can only make do with what is put in front of us,” Lerena said. “I was working hard to get a knockout, but Saned is a tough competitor. He said he was going to knock me out, but looks like he was the one doing all the kneeing and taking a seat. I was here to fight.”
Lerena’s trainer Peter Smith was pleased with his charge’s performance.
“He did a great job, I loved the fight,” Smith said. “He’s got a great jab and we are going develop that jab even better so watch out for the future. Saned is a tough opponent, he lasted and did not get knocked out. That’s what we like when we watch top fights.”
Before the fight Gashi said he wanted to take the decision out of the hands of the judges.
“It will be a fight without the decision points,” Gashi said. “I know it is very hard to win away from home because we know that the judges usually favour the home fighter.”
He added: “I have worked very hard and sparred with great guys and I have been in camp for this fight. I’ve fought many guys, I have over a hundred amateur fights.
“I fought many guys like Kevin. He is a powerhouse and a strong guy. Of course you can’t predict a fight, but I am a natural puncher and I am hundred percent sure I will win.”
Lerena laughed off those comments.
“Many have tried to dethrone me. Many have tried to beat me. When the bell goes, it’s just me and Gashi in the ring,” he said.
“I am very well prepared. I’ve been there, been on the big stage, fallen short on the big stage and I have learnt.”
