Pretoria, South Africa: In 2001, South Africa briefly became the center of the boxing universe when Hasim Rahman shocked the world, knocking out Lennox Lewis at Carnival City to claim the WBC heavyweight crown. For more than two decades, no bout on South African soil matched that level of global impact—until now.

On May 1, 2025, The Reckoning changed everything. Staged at the sold-out SunBet Arena in Pretoria, The Reckoning was more than a boxing event. It was a defiant return to form, Africa’s roar back into a sport that had left it behind. At the heart of it all was Johannesburg’s Kevin Lerena, defending his WBC Bridgerweight World Title against Ukrainian veteran Serhiy Radchenko.

For South African entrepreneur Dewald Mostert, founder of Legacy Boxing Promotions, the vision was bold: bring world-class boxing back to African soil. At a time when Las Vegas, Riyadh, and London dominate the global fight circuit, Mostert bankrolled a risk few others would take—putting his own money behind an African supercard that featured 23 fighters from the continent, many of whom had long been overlooked by the global boxing establishment.

From the opening bell of the undercard, the tone was set. Rising prospects Gary van Staden and Leo Careeri impressed on debut, Former SA heavyweight champ Chris “The Wolf” Thompson delivered a punishing victory over Malawi’s Mussa “The Elephant” Ajibu. Cruiserweight veteran Thabiso Mchunu, who once pushed current unified heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk to the brink, secured a hard-fought split decision. Rising names Gary van Staden and Leo Careeri impressed on debut, while crowd favourite Tulz Mbenge clinically dismantled Emmanuel Mungand, who had talked a big game but couldn’t back it up.

By the time Lerena entered the ring more than 7,000 fans including celebrities, politicians, former world champions, and UFC Middleweight king Dricus du Plessis—were on their feet. The atmosphere was electric. Lerena, 32, came in with fire. The former IBO Cruiserweight Champion had seen his career take a detour after a crushing loss to Daniel Dubois in 2022—a bout he nearly won after dropping the Brit three times in one round. That missed opportunity still lingered, especially with Dubois now preparing to fight Usyk in front of 90,000 at Wembley. This was Lerena’s moment to remind the world who he is. “This isn’t just about the belt,” Lerena had said before the fight. “It’s about reminding the world that South Africa belongs at the top of boxing.”

Round one was a slow burn. Then came the eruption. In round two, Lerena unleashed his trademark power. Radchenko, a veteran of many wars, had no answers. Punch after punch rained down. The referee hesitated to step in. Only the bell saved Radchenko from an early stoppage. But the end was near. Just 16 seconds into round three, Radchenko’s corner threw in the towel. The arena erupted.

Visibly emotional in his post-fight interview, Lerena made it clear what this victory meant: “After 14 months out of the ring, I treated this like someone was trying to take food off my kids’ table. Nobody’s doing that. When I show up, I beat anyone, heavyweights, Bridgerweights. I just got a call for a possible big fight. Let’s go, baby!”

The Reckoning wasn’t just a boxing showcase. It was a revival. Fighters were treated with respect. Fans were welcomed. The media was engaged. And the atmosphere? Unforgettable. One thing is now certain: South African boxing is alive, hungry, and ready to reclaim its place on the world stage. And after a night like this,

The Reckoning II can’t come soon enough. Kevin Lerena made his statement. The world heard it.

[Submitted by Kevin Rademeyer]