Johannesburg – With less than a minute left in the tenth round, Kevin “Two Guns” Lerena sent Scott Forrest crashing to the canvas.

Although Forrest managed to get back up to finish the fight, all three judges ultimately awarded the match to Lerena.

The unanimous decision granted the South African the vacant WBC International cruiserweight title on Saturday, 7 November, in front of a full house at the Sandton Convention Centre during Aquila Boxing Promotions’ Knockout Chaos 3: The Return.

Lerena was aggressive from the opening bell against Forrest. Judges Duduzile Dlamini and Thando Xamlashe scored it 97–92, while Namhla Tyuluba scored it 98–91, all in favor of Lerena.

Forrest, who hails from Johannesburg and had represented Scotland at two Commonwealth Games, pushed Lerena to work hard throughout the full ten rounds.

Post-fight, Lerena praised Forrest’s extensive amateur background, emphasizing the importance of patience when faced with an opponent with few openings.

This bout marked Lerena’s first return to the cruiserweight division since 2020.

In the years that followed, the former IBO cruiserweight world champion competed in the heavyweight division, even claiming the WBC world title at bridgerweight.

Now, at 34 years old, he’s making a comeback to the 90.7 kg category where he first won a world title.

Three stoppages earn R65,000 in Knockout Clock bonuses

Simnikiwe Bongco emerged victorious over Sivenathi Nolawu in the opening junior middleweight clash. In the subsequent match, Gauteng junior lightweight champion Tumelo “Slow Poison” Mphahlele knocked out Msawakhe “King Kong” Mncwabe just 79 seconds into their scheduled six-round fight.

Mphahlele, who trains at Smith’s Gym under Sean Smith, secured a R30,000 Knockout Clock bonus sponsored by Cordiguard and LBE Logistics.

Tendai “Big Tendai” Sinakoma from Zimbabwe faced off against South Africa’s Bonginkosi “Malume” Nhlapo, going the distance to win their catchweight bout by unanimous decision.

KC Pinnacle partnered with Veloce and Nasty ENRG to support the bout’s Knockout Clock.

Jason “El Rey” Medi scored a stoppage against Douglas “The Congo Crusher” Ntounta 54 seconds into the fifth round of their eight-round super middleweight contest.

This technical knockout earned Medi a R10,000 Knockout Clock bonus, sponsored by Tigris by Discovery and Heerschop Pienaar.

In the fifth bout, 19-year-old South African talent Leo “The Chosen One” Careri defeated 36-year-old Jackson “El Jaguar” Masamba from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, stopping him at one minute and 52 seconds into the second round.

Careri’s technical knockout in the scheduled six-round catchweight fight earned him a R25,000 Knockout Clock bonus, backed by Parque and Advanced Fire Suppression Technologies.

South African boxers Jarred Silverman and SD Pypers finally faced off in the junior middleweight co-main event after weeks of public exchanges and a postponement.

Silverman won in a finish that ignited discussion throughout Sandton.

Lerena’s return to the 200-pound division comes with hopes for a third world title.

Against Forrest, he had ten full rounds to evaluate his performance after a six-year hiatus from cruiserweight.

He left Sandton with the WBC International belt and a significant step toward regaining his world-title aspirations.