Kevin “Two Guns” Lerena has vowed to retain his WBC bridgerweight title with a knockout against Ryad Merhy at The Dome in Charleroi, Belgium, on May 30.
It will be the second meeting between these former world champions in the cruiserweight division — a weight class just below bridgerweight.
Lerena, who vacated the IBO belt after six successful defences, defeated the Ivorian-born, Belgium-based boxer by a unanimous points decision in their official WBC bridgerweight elimination fight at Emperors Palace on May 13 2023.
“The result will be the same…only this time it will be louder, cleaner and in better fashion,“ said southpaw Lerena, who has defeated 15 of his 31 opponents, against three losses.
“I’m coming for the KO. All the paperwork is signed and sealed, and I’m heading to Belgium to defend the green and gold belt against my mandatory challenger, Ryad Merhy.”
Since they last met, Merhy, a former WBA champ, has won two non-title fights.
“Respect where it’s due, but when the bell rings, respect stays in the corner,” said Lerena, whose skills are honed by ex-heavyweight pro boxer, Peter “Sniper” Smith.
Merhy has won 32 of his 35 fights and boasts 26 knockouts.
Lerena’s first successful defence of his bridgerweight title was a third-round stoppage of Ukrainian Serhiy Radchenko in Kempton Park on May 1 last year.
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