‘It’s a good omen’… Kevin Lerena previews his long-destined clash with Lawrence Okolie

Kevin Lerena will take on Lawrence Okolie in Okolie’s second heavyweight fight on the undercard of Daniel Dubois vs Oleksandr Usyk 2.

Kevin Lerena is now 31-3 after suffering defeats at the hands of Justis Huni and Daniel Dubois, despite Lerena dropping Dubois three times in their match.

Lerena wobbled Huni in his latest high-profile bout, and is now on track to challenge Lawrence Okolie after the Brit made his heavyweight debut in December last year.

Lerena spoke to South African news ahead of his fight.

Kevin Lerena speaks on ‘good omen’ countryman ahead of his fight with Lawrence Okolie

Ahead of his fight with Okolie, Lerena spoke on how the pair were supposed to fight multiple times, and it was almost destined that they would face off at this stage in their careers.

“We’re on the same route, right. We were meant to fight at cruiserweight; we didn’t fight. We were meant to fight at bridgerweight, it fell through. Now we’re meeting on the biggest stage, 97,000 people, Wembley Stadium in London.”

Lerena then went on to praise his fellow South African boxers, and expressed how proud he is of the fighters who fly the South African flag.

He spoke on his countryman Phumelela Cafu, who will face Bam Rodriguez on the same night as Lerena will face Okolie, on what will be 2025’s biggest night of boxing.

“I wish him all the best, it’s hopefully a good omen that we’re fighting on the same night.”

Kevin Lerena vs Lawrence Okolie – The Stats

It seems Okolie has every advantage going into the fight, though it’s interesting to compare the two men. Dubois thinks Okolie will KO Lerena.