South African heavyweight Kevin Lerena will take on the much bigger Mariusz Wach in a scheduled 12-round contest at Emperors Palace, Johannesburg on Saturday.
Lerena, who officially made the switch to heavyweight earlier this year after campaigning at cruiserweight, looks to build on the momentum he gained from beating Bogdan Dinu in March.
“It’s my biggest fight to date,” Lerena (27-1, 14 KOs) told The Ring. “He is a former world title challenger, he is bringing experience, he has fought big names. He is a big man and has a size advantage. I am looking forward to the challenge. He is a legit heavyweight and a real test for me.
“He is a tough competitor, I know I have a tough fight ahead of me. We know what we have to do to beat him. We have a good game plan. I feel like he is going to find me very uncomfortable being the smaller man.”
The 30-year-old southpaw isn’t worried about giving up 30-plus pounds of weight and six inches of height and says this is the next step in his heavyweight journey.
“I feel good with the weight, a lot of energy, a lot of pop in my punch, very explosive,” he explained. “Mariusz Wach is a better fighter than Dinu and he fought much bigger names. He’s not Dinu but I’m not afraid of any big guy. Size means nothing, skills pay the bills and I’m excited for the fight.”
Lerena knows she has to take each fight as it comes, but is optimistic she can mix it up with the best.
“The goal is to beat Mariusz Wach,” he said. “[Not just a] win over Mariusz Wach, but a stoppage win is impressive and would send a clear message to the heavyweight division that I am serious and want the big fights. I want to be in the top 10 and once I’m in the top 10, I want a world title shot.
“AJ is a great fighter, I always want to pit myself against the best in the world. I really believe that I am also one of the best in the world, so I want to face the best. Any fighter who doesn’t believe they can beat another fighter shouldn’t be in the sport of boxing.
“I want the world to know that this guy from South Africa is going to make noise in the heavyweight division. If you don’t know my name, you’ll be on the international heavyweight world scene next year.”
Lerena’s promoter, Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves, has been the top boxing promoter in Africa since the 1980s, managing the likes of Brian Mitchell, Welcome Ncita and Vuyani Bungu. He also promoted Lennox Lewis-Hasim Rahman in South Africa in April 2001.
The veteran promoter is in no doubt about what he wants next if his charge is victorious against Wach.
“I’d put Lerena up with Anthony Joshua tomorrow,” Berman said grandly. “Joshua is calling the opponents. Eddie Hearn calls everyone and when you call him, he doesn’t check the messages.
“They’ll make all the excuses, Lerena’s not a big enough name, it’s just talking to Hearn. Lerena is ready and willing.”
Wach (36-8, 19 KOs) has been a pro since 2005. He won his first 27 fights before losing to unified heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (UD 12) in 2012. After returning to the win column with four wins , He was arrested. by Alexander Povetkin (TKO 12).
The 42-year-old also lost to Jarrell Miller (TKO 9), Dillian Whyte (UD 10), Hughie Fury (UD 10) and most recently Arslanbek Makhmudov (KO 6). Wach has been stopped four times, but has never been eliminated early.
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