South African boxing has another reason to celebrate. Kevin “Two Guns” Lerena has returned to cruiserweight with a statement victory, claiming the vacant WBC International cruiserweight title after defeating Scott Forrest at a sold-out Sandton Convention Centre.
The victory at Aquila Boxing Promotions’ Knockout Chaos 3: The Return on Saturday, 7 November, was more than another championship addition to Lerena’s record. It marked the beginning of a new chapter for a fighter determined to return to the division where he first made his name on the world stage.
And with three stoppages delivering R65 000 in Knockout Clock bonuses, Sandton witnessed a night that celebrated both established champions and the next generation of South African boxing talent.
Lerena’s Return Is About More Than a Belt
At 34, Lerena is taking another shot at cruiserweight glory.
The South African last competed in the 90.7kg division in 2020. Since then, he has tested himself at heavyweight and held the WBC world title at bridgerweight. His return signals a renewed focus on the division where he previously became an IBO cruiserweight world champion.
Against Forrest, Lerena showed why experience matters in championship boxing.
He controlled much of the ten-round contest, applying pressure while remaining patient against an opponent who offered few opportunities. The decisive moment came with less than a minute remaining in the final round, when Lerena sent Forrest to the canvas.
Forrest recovered and reached the final bell, but the judges were unanimous in their decision.
Duduzile Dlamini and Thando Xamlashe scored the contest 97–92, while Namhla Tyuluba awarded Lerena a 98–91 victory.
Forrest, a Johannesburg-born boxer who represented Scotland at two Commonwealth Games, proved a challenging opponent. Lerena acknowledged his amateur pedigree after the fight, recognising the discipline required to break down an experienced boxer.
The WBC International belt now gives Lerena an important platform as he targets another opportunity at world-title level.
Knockout Chaos Delivers Opportunities for Local Fighters
While Lerena headlined the evening, the supporting bouts demonstrated the depth of talent competing in the South African boxing scene.
Gauteng junior lightweight champion Tumelo “Slow Poison” Mphahlele delivered one of the night’s quickest finishes, stopping Msawakhe “King Kong” Mncwabe just one minute and 19 seconds into the opening round.
The performance earned Mphahlele a R30 000 Knockout Clock bonus, backed by Cordiguard and LBE Logistics.
Jason “El Rey” Medi also made his mark, stopping Douglas “The Congo Crusher” Ntounta 54 seconds into the fifth round of their scheduled eight-round super middleweight contest. His performance secured a R10 000 bonus.
However, one of the night’s most exciting stories belonged to 19-year-old Leo “The Chosen One” Careri.
The young South African prospect stopped 36-year-old Jackson “El Jaguar” Masamba of the Democratic Republic of the Congo one minute and 52 seconds into the second round. The victory earned Careri R25 000 in Knockout Clock incentives, backed by Parque and Advanced Fire Suppression Technologies.
For a young fighter building his professional identity, that kind of recognition can become an important stepping stone.
Investing in the Next Generation of Boxing
The Knockout Clock initiative added another dimension to the event.
With R65 000 awarded across three stoppages, the bonuses rewarded fighters who delivered decisive performances while giving emerging talent an additional financial incentive.
For South African boxing, opportunities like these matter. Developing professional fighters requires more than training facilities and competitive opponents. It also requires promoters, sponsors and platforms willing to invest in athletes as they build their careers.
The evening also featured Zimbabwe’s Tendai “Big Tendai” Sinakoma, who defeated South Africa’s Bonginkosi “Malume” Nhlapo by unanimous decision, while the junior middleweight co-main event between Jarred Silverman and SD Pypers brought months of public exchanges into the ring following a postponement.
The finish sparked debate among spectators, adding another talking point to an already eventful evening.
A New Chapter for South African Boxing
Lerena leaves Sandton with the WBC International cruiserweight title and renewed momentum towards his ambitions of becoming a world champion in the division once again.
But Knockout Chaos 3 also highlighted something bigger: South African boxing continues to create opportunities for established names and hungry young prospects to share the same stage.
From Lerena’s championship comeback to Careri’s impressive breakthrough, the evening offered a glimpse of a sport that continues to evolve through competition, investment and emerging talent.
The next challenge for Lerena will be turning this comeback victory into another world-title opportunity. For the younger fighters, the challenge is to build on their performances and keep climbing.
One thing is certain: Sandton delivered a reminder that South African boxing still has plenty of fight left in it.
