Lerena has Super Four win on his mind

There’s a pot of $100 000 for the two finalists in the upcoming cruiserweight Super Four tournament with the winner taking home the lion’s share.

It’s a mouth watering prospect for the two local combatants involved in the event, with the first round taking place at Emperors Palace on June 11, but there’s more to it than just cash.

“Just winning it. That’s the big thing for me. Obviously the money is a big factor but winning the Super Four is the biggest thing to me. It’s all about winning,” Kevin Lerena said yesterday.

The current South African and WBA Pan African champion takes on an experienced customer in Roberto Bolonti and the Argentine fighter looks to have the edge when you take into account some of his previous opponents.

The recent winner of the WBC world title, Tony Bellew, is among those names but Lerena feels that it doesn’t count for much in the build-up to their battle.

“It means nothing. I’ve faced guys of a higher calibre in sparring. He hasn’t got an edge on me. Bolonti is experienced but my game plan is evolving. I’m younger and hungrier for this than he is,” the 14-1 professional said.

Some might argue that this will be the toughest test the 24-year-old will have faced to date but Lerena is confident.

“You could say that on paper it’s the toughest fight that I have had but we won’t really know that until the night,” Lerena said of his Argentine opponent.

“My expectation is to win the whole thing,” Lerena said of the concept that will also see Johnny Muller take on unbeaten Danish fighter Micki Nielsen in the other semifinal.

Should Muller get through that assignment it would set up the trilogy of showdowns between him and Lerena. Muller handed the southpaw his first, and only, loss but the “KO Kid” bounced back with an impressive stoppage in the return back in April.

“”It would be great if Johnny made it to the final because it would involve two South Africans. It’s only fair that we settle it seeing as we’ve both won one fight in the two times we’ve met,” said Lerena.

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