The Boxer Who Survived Helicopter Crash And Testified At Pistorius Trial

With nan crushing weight of nonaccomplishment and condolences pressing down connected him, Kevin Lerena sank heavy into nan sofa successful his dressing room.

The South African heavyweight had conscionable gone nan region successful a razor-thin title against Australian imaginable Justis Huni successful Saudi Arabia. He rocked Huni successful nan last information but could not onshore nan decisive blow.

For astir boxers, coming truthful agonisingly adjacent to triumph is reliable to swallow. For Lerena, though, location was a consciousness of heavy relief.

A time earlier he received nan devastating news that his mother had died successful South Africa.

"I was conscionable gladsome that nan conflict was complete and I could spell location and laic my mother to rest," he told BBC Sport.

The truth that Lerena stepped into nan ringing astatine each speaks volumes astir his intelligence strength, but he says withdrawing was ne'er an option.

"I was not astatine location to beryllium pinch her erstwhile she abruptly passed, but I kept quiet and put connected my beardown armour to correspond myself, my state and my family," he added.

"It was tough, though. It took an affectional toll connected me. I'm only quality and I felt it successful nan fight. I felt drained and fatigued."

On 19 July Lerena will look Briton Lawrence Okolie astatine Wembley Stadium successful nan latest section successful an bonzer life afloat of highs, lows and existent cinematic drama.

Lerena has dropped a early heavyweight world champion 3 times successful nan first round. He has walked distant from a chopper crash. And he has been a cardinal witnesser successful 1 of nan astir high-profile execution tests of nan 21st Century.

Born and raised successful Johannesburg, rugby was Lerena's first passion. But erstwhile that dream faded he shifted attraction to boxing and discovered a talent for pugilism.

Now 32, he has racked up 33 master wins pinch 3 defeats and is nary alien to nan large stage.

British conflict fans will retrieve Lerena for astir pulling disconnected a seismic upset against Daniel Dubois - nan existent IBF heavyweight champion - astatine Tottenham Hotspur Stadium successful 2022.

Dubois was floored 3 times wrong nan first round, visibly stunned aft nan first knockdown and nursing what appeared to beryllium a knee injury.

Lerena pressed guardant but Dubois dropped him successful nan 3rd and vanished it pinch a barrage that forced nan referee to intervene.

"I was fighting backmost but nan referee stopped it," Lerena reflected.

"It was what it was. I can't harp connected astir it. In my mind, I cognize I gave Daniel his hardest and toughest trial to date."

Lerena's beardown performances against Dubois and Huni raised his estimation arsenic a reliable heavyweight contender.

Tyson Fury is simply a instrumentality and enlisted Lerana for sparring successful nan build-up to nan Briton's 2 fights against Oleksandr Usyk.

Lerena could beryllium a overmuch bigger sanction if he chose to thin into nan headlines his life has generated but says that is not his "style" and he would alternatively region himself from his past.

In 2014 he appeared successful courtroom testimony during nan execution proceedings of Oscar Pistorius.

Lerena testified that Pistorius was responsible for a weapon being fired astatine a edifice a twelvemonth earlier nan Paralympic sprint champion changeable and killed woman Reeva Steenkamp.

"It was a antagonistic time. I do not want to bring negativity into my life, and I do not person immoderate affiliation pinch those people," he said.

"What happened past during that clip for Oscar and for nan Steenkamp family was terrible, but it's sewage thing to do pinch maine and I don't judge successful building your floor plan connected specified events."

Later, Lerena mentions stepping distant from a chopper clang pinch insignificant injuries successful 2021, an acquisition which would specify astir but for him is conscionable different footnote.

"It was a training accident. I person sewage my aviator licence. It's a pity because it shouldn't person happened," he said.

"We were doing a simulation, and nan conditions were incorrect and a batch was against us. But I conjecture if you put yourself successful those situations location is ever that risk."

Lerena goes into nan ringing arsenic nan underdog against erstwhile cruiserweight world champion Okolie. A triumph complete nan Londoner would only adhd to his singular story.

If Lerena does lose, though, it will not beryllium for want of bosom aliases effort.

"I person that warrior spirit. I ever effort my champion to excavation deep. I person not been handed a metallic spoon successful life and I person not been handed a metallic spoon successful boxing either," he said.

While Lerena is clear he wants his fists to do nan talking, his life - from near-death experiences to courtroom play - has played retired for illustration a Hollywood thriller.

Asked who would play him successful a movie, Lerena picks Twilight prima Taylor Lautner.

His battles whitethorn not impact vampires aliases teenage angst but - extracurricular of nan ringing astatine slightest - Lerena's communicative is each spot arsenic dramatic.