- \n
- HISTORIC MILESTONE:\u00a0<\/span>Kevin\u00a0<\/span>Lerena\u00a0defends\u00a0<\/span>his<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>world\u00a0<\/span>title at\u00a0<\/span>Sunbet<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>A<\/span>rena on 1 May\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n
- \n
- UNSTOPPABLE ALLIANCE:\u00a0<\/span>Sunbet\u00a0& Legacy Boxing join forces to revive SA boxing\u2019s glory<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n
- \n
- ELITE SHOWDOWN:\u00a0<\/span>A powerhouse fight card stacked with world-class talent<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n
- \n
- A NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS:\u00a0<\/span>History, legacy, and adrenaline collide in the ring<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>
Sunbet,\u00a0in partnership with\u00a0Legacy Boxing Promotions, is set to present\u00a0“The Reckoning”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The stage is set for a historic night of boxing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Sunbet<\/span>,<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in partnership with\u00a0<\/span>Legacy Boxing Promotions<\/span>, is set to present<\/span>\u00a0“The Reckoning”\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/span>– a night\u00a0set to captivate local fans and make history in South African boxing, as a WBC world title will be defended on home soil for the first time.\u00a0The highly\u00a0anticipated\u00a0showdown is set to take place on\u00a0<\/span>May 1, 2025, at\u00a0SunBet\u00a0Arena in Pretoria<\/span>, where history will be made under the bright lights of South Africa\u2019s premier boxing stage.<\/span><\/p>\n
The Reckoning<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n \nThe official press conference took place on\u00a0<\/span>March 31, 2025<\/span>, where key stakeholders, media and boxing enthusiasts gathered at the\u00a0Sunbet\u00a0Arena in Pretoria to discuss the 1 May spectacle. The conference was attended by\u00a0<\/span>Gideon Mann<\/span>, COO of\u00a0Sunbet,\u00a0<\/span>Dewald Mostert<\/span>, CEO of Legacy Boxing Promotions,\u00a0<\/span>Mandla\u00a0Ntlanganiso<\/span>, CEO of Boxing South Africa (BSA),\u00a0<\/span>Kevin\u00a0Lerena<\/span>, as well as fellow undercard boxers\u00a0<\/span>Thabiso Mchunu, Chris Thompson, Lindo Khuzwayo,\u00a0Tietsetso\u00a0Matikinca<\/span>. The event underscored the\u00a0strong support\u00a0and collaboration from all corners of the boxing world to bring \u201cThe Reckoning\u201d to life.<\/span><\/p>\n
Sunbet\u2019s\u00a0partnership with Legacy Boxing Promotions reflects a long-term dedication to growing South African boxing and restoring its prominence in market.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n \nSunbet, a leader in South Africa’s sports betting and entertainment industry, has long supported local sporting initiatives. Their involvement in \u201cThe Reckoning\u201d underscores a commitment to investing in boxing, providing a platform for local talent while creating new opportunities for fighters and fans. Beyond sponsorship,\u00a0Sunbet\u2019s\u00a0partnership with Legacy Boxing Promotions reflects a long-term dedication to growing South African boxing and restoring its prominence in market.<\/span><\/p>\n
It\u2019s\u00a0time to take boxing back to the top<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n \nSimon Gregory<\/span>, CEO of\u00a0Sunbet, shared the vision behind the partnership, \u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0time to take boxing back to the top! We are excited to be a part of an event that we hope is just the first step in a new era for one of South Africa\u2019s favourite pastimes. South Africa has such a rich history in the sport, from Presidents to past champions, that boxing is in the fabric of what makes this country great. That made the decision to become a title sponsor for \u2018The Reckoning\u2019 with the team at Legacy Boxing Promotions an easy one. We are committed to investing in the future of South African boxing, with this event serving as a platform for rising stars and seasoned fighters alike. With a full fight card and a world title on the line, the 1st May event promises to be an exceptional night, but it is also the beginning of something bigger \u2013 the reinvigoration of boxing in South Africa.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
South African Boxing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n \nA Historic Event for South African Boxing<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>
\nThe main event features the\u00a0<\/span>WBC\u00a0Bridgerweight\u00a0World Championship<\/span>\u00a0bout between reigning champion\u00a0<\/span>Kevin “KO KING”\u00a0Lerena<\/span>\u00a0and Ukrainian contender\u00a0<\/span>Serhiy\u00a0Radchenko<\/span>. This marks the first time a WBC world title will be defended on South African soil –\u00a0a\u00a0 landmark\u00a0moment for boxing in SA.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nLerena\u00a0speaking on his title defence says,\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/strong><\/em>It\u2019s\u00a0an incredible feeling to defend the WBC World Title on home soil. Being the first to do so in South African history makes it even more special, and becoming\u00a0only the third-ever WBC champion is a huge honour.\u00a0To be able to do it in front of my home fans and my loyal\u00a0Lerena\u00a0Army is truly special, and\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0an honour to make history with them.\u201d<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0Lerena\u00a0claimed the interim title in November 2023 with a unanimous decision over\u00a0Senad\u00a0Gashi\u00a0and was elevated to full champion in October 2024 when Lawrence\u00a0Okolie\u00a0moved up to heavyweight.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nThe\u00a0Bridgerweight\u00a0division, originally created by the WBC and later adopted by the WBA, sits between cruiserweight and heavyweight with a 224 lb limit.\u00a0Radchenko\u00a0(11-7, 5 KOs), ranked fifth in the division, comes into the fight on a four-fight win streak, having recently outpointed 15-2-1 Andrej\u00a0Pesic\u00a0in\u00a0Kiev. At 37, he aims to cause an upset in what promises to be a thrilling clash.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nThe Reckoning Fight Card<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>
\nThe action-packed card kicks off with rising talent on the Day Card in matchups like Jabulani\u00a0Makhence\u00a0vs. Antonio\u00a0Maiala\u00a0and Gary van Staden vs. Seth van\u00a0Asweging, setting the stage for an explosive Main Card:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nMain Event (12 Rounds \u2013 WBC World\u00a0Bridgerweight\u00a0Title):\u00a0<\/span>Kevin\u00a0Lerena\u00a0(33\u201330W\u20133L) vs.\u00a0Serhiy\u00a0Radchenko\u00a0(18\u201311W\u20137L)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nCo-Main Event (10 Rounds \u2013 Welterweight):\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0Tulz\u00a0Mbenge\u00a0(23\u201321W\u20132L) vs. Emmanuel\u00a0Mungandjela\u00a0(25\u201320W\u20134L\u20131D)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nUndercard Fights:<\/span>
\n\u2022 Thabiso Mchunu vs.\u00a0Amandor\u00a0Kalonji (Cruiserweight)<\/span>
\n\u2022 Chris Thompson vs.\u00a0Mussa\u00a0Ajibu\u00a0(Heavyweight)<\/span>
\n\u2022 Lindo Khuzwayo vs. Sthembiso\u00a0Maduna\u00a0(Featherweight)<\/span>
\n\u2022\u00a0Tietsetso\u00a0Matikinca\u00a0vs.\u00a0Mbulelo\u00a0Gubula\u00a0(Bantamweight)<\/span><\/p>\n\nGideon Mann, COO of\u00a0Sunbet<\/span>\u00a0added,<\/span>\u00a0\u201cI\u2019ve\u00a0always loved boxing,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0in my blood.\u00a0Some of my fondest memories are sitting between my father and grandfather, eyes glued to the screen, watching legends trade blows. To now play a part, alongside the incredible teams at\u00a0Sunbet\u00a0and Legacy, in bringing a WBC title fight back to South African soil feels like a dream. This is more than just a bout;\u00a0it’s\u00a0a revival of a proud tradition, a moment of national pride, and a heartfelt nod to where our passion began – from Baby Jake and Brian Mitchell to that iconic image of Mandela, gloves raised, embodying the fighting spirit of a nation.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
\nLegacy Boxing Promotions\u2019\u00a0<\/span>Dewald Mostert<\/span>\u00a0also addressed the event\u2019s broader significance for South African boxing: \u201cThe Reckoning\u201d is a defining milestone for us. It\u00a0represents\u00a0everything we believe in – excellence, purpose, and national pride. This event marks the first time a WBC world title will be defended on South African soil, and that alone makes it historic. But beyond the title,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0about creating legacy moments. South Africa has produced world champions across generations, and this is about reigniting that legacy. With the event\u2019s stacked fight card and the exposure, it brings to both African and international talent,\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0showing the world that South Africa is ready to host elite boxing. For us,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0not just about putting on a show –\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0about telling South Africa\u2019s boxing story and building a future that lasts.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
SUNBET & LEGACY BOXING PROMOTIONS PRESENT THE RECKONING \u2013 HISTORIC WBC TITLE FIGHT ON SOUTH AFRICAN SOIL<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \nBoxing South Africa\u2019s Support<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>
\nThis monumental event has received full backing from\u00a0<\/span>Boxing South Africa (BSA)<\/span>, with\u00a0<\/span>Mandla\u00a0Ntlanganiso<\/span>, CEO of BSA, in attendance at the press conference.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nThis event goes beyond just a title fight; it is a celebration of South Africa\u2019s rich boxing heritage, a showcase of the nation\u2019s boxing talent, and a global stage where history and passion collide. It\u00a0represents\u00a0the convergence of South Africa\u2019s past, present, and future in the boxing world<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"HISTORIC MILESTONE:\u00a0Kevin\u00a0Lerena\u00a0defends\u00a0his\u00a0world\u00a0title at\u00a0Sunbet\u00a0Arena on 1 May\u00a0 UNSTOPPABLE ALLIANCE:\u00a0Sunbet\u00a0& Legacy Boxing join forces to revive SA boxing\u2019s glory ELITE SHOWDOWN:\u00a0A powerhouse fight card stacked with world-class talent A NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS:\u00a0History, legacy, and adrenaline collide in the ring The stage is set for a historic night of boxing.\u00a0Sunbet,\u00a0in partnership with\u00a0Legacy Boxing Promotions, is set to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":59120,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[171,9417,9464],"class_list":["post-59118","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-more-sport","tag-boxing","tag-kevin-lerena","tag-the-reckoning"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59118","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59118"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59118\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59118"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59118"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59118"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- A NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS:\u00a0<\/span>History, legacy, and adrenaline collide in the ring<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
- ELITE SHOWDOWN:\u00a0<\/span>A powerhouse fight card stacked with world-class talent<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
- UNSTOPPABLE ALLIANCE:\u00a0<\/span>Sunbet\u00a0& Legacy Boxing join forces to revive SA boxing\u2019s glory<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n