Justis Huni vs Kevin Lerena Preview March 8th, 2024
Unbeaten Justis Huni of Australia takes on Kevin Lerena of Johannesburg, South Africa in a 10-round heavyweight showdown this Friday, March 8th. The fight from Saudi Arabia can be seen live in most nations on pay per view including Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and Ireland as well as DAZN on the undercard of the Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou battle. Huni last fought in October when he beat Andrew Tabiti by a wide 10-round unanimous decision while Lerena last boxed in November when he downed Senad Gashi via a 12-round unanimous nod.
Huni vs Lerena Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Kevin Lerena +375
- Justis Huni -550
My Pick
The 24-year-old Huni enters the ring with a perfect mark of 8-0 with 4 Ko’s and has 62 rounds of experience under his belt since making his pro debut in 2020. Before that he enjoyed a successful amateur career which saw him win a bronze medal at the 2019 World Championships and the gold at the 2016 Youth World championships.
As a pro, he stopped his first three opponents and four of his first five but has gone the distance in his last three outings for a current knockout ratio of 50 per cent. Huni captured the Australian Heavyweight Crown in his first pro fight when he stopped Faiga Opelu in the seventh round. He defended it by halting Arsene Fosso in the fourth round, beating Christian Ndzie Tsoye by 10-round unanimous decision and stopping Paul Gallen in the 10th and final stanza.
Huni then added the vacant WBO Oriental, IBF Pan Pacific, and Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation Heavyweight Titles with a 10-round unanimous decision over Joseph Goodall. He has defended all three titles via a 10-round unanimous decision over Kiki Toa Leutele. Huni stands 6-feet-4-inches tall with76.5-inch reach.
Lerena is a 31-year-old southpaw who climbs through the ropes with a mark of 30-2 with 14 Ko’s and has boxed 219 rounds since making his pro debut in 2011. He measures 6-feet-1-inch tall but unfortunately has an unlisted reach so is three inches shorter than Huni. As far as power goes, Lerena is also average at 46.7 per cent of his wins have been by stoppage and his last three have been by decisions. However he did drop former WBA Champion Daniel Dubois three times in the first round before being halted by TKO in the third round.
The first defeat on Lerena’s pro record came at the hands of Johnny Muller in 2014 by way of a 10-round unanimous decision. His biggest wins have come against Muller in a rematch as well as Roberto Bolonti, Micki Nielson, Youri Kalenga, Dmytro Kucher, Artur Mann, Sefer Seferi, Firat Arslan, Bogdan Dinu, Ryad Merhy and Mariusz Wach. Lerena may be relatively unknown in most parts of the world but is an accomplished boxer with fine skills.
Since turning pro, he’s also won the vacant WBA Inter-Continental Heavyweight Belt as well as the WBC Youth Silver, WBF African, South African and Pan African Cruiserweight Titles. He also captured the vacant IBO World Cruiserweight Title, which he then defended six times before moving up to the heavyweight division.
Prediction…
Lerena has the skills to surprise a few people here including Huni but his lack of power means Huni may be able to take a few risks if he feels he’s down on the scorecards. This is a pretty even matchup but Huni is seven years younger and also has a lot of amateur experience. No outcome should be a surprise here as this is an extremely close call but I’ll give Hunis the edge due to his size and youthfulness.
Huni is younger with a little more power.
Play Huni -550 @ BetOnline.ag
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Justis Huni betting • Kevin Lerena betting