South Africa’s Kevin Lerena (30-3; 14) lost on points over ten rounds in a closely-fought encounter against Australian Justis Huni (9-0; 4) on Friday night at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in a heavyweight bout.
The scores were 96-94, 96-94, and 98-92, all in favour of Huni.
In what was an entertaining fight the stronger Australian had to dig deep against the determined South African, who fights from the southpaw stance.
Lerena scored with a left cross and short right hook that stopped Huni in his tracks early on.
However, Huni was able to score with right hands that pierced the South Africans defence to take an early lead.
Lerena increased the pace in round five but with little success as he struggled against his stronger opponent.
Lerena did manage to win the seventh round but going into the final round the southpaw Lerena needed a knockout to win and caught Huni with a left hook to the chin, but Huni managed to stay on his feet as Lerena did not have much strength left.
JOSHUA WINS IN TWO ROUNDS
In the main event former two time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (28-3; 25) knocked out Francis Ngantou (0-2) to defeat at 2:38 into the second round
PARKER COMES BACK FROM TWO KNOCKDOWNS
Former WBO world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker (35-3; 23) had to come back from two knockdowns before winning against WBO interim heavyweight champion Zhilei Zhang (26-2-1; 21) on a 12-round majority points decision.
Zhang scored knockdowns in rounds three and eight, but Parker came back to outbox and outwork the exhausted Zhang to win with scores of 113-113, 114-112, 115-111.
VARGAS DOWN TWICE BUT FIGHTS TO A DRAW
WBC featherweight champion Rey Vargas (36-1-1; 22) retained his belt with a 12-round draw against the No 1 rated Nick Ball (19-0-1; 11). The taller Vargas towered over the 5’2 Ball and dominated the first six rounds.
However, Ball came back to stun Vargas in the seventh round and again in rounds eight and 11. The scores were 114-112 Vargas, 116-110 Ball, 113-113.
MADRIMOV WINS VACANT WBA JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE
In a clash for the vacant WBA junior middleweight title that was previously held by Jermell Charlo, the WBA No 1 rated Israil “The Dream” Madrimov (10-0-1; 7) won on a fifth-round technical knockout against WBA No 2 rated Magomed Kurbanov (25-1; 13). Madrimov stunned Kurbanov in the fifth round and got the referees stoppage after a follow up barrage. Time was 2:20.
Mark Chamberlain (15-0; 11) won on a fourth-round stoppage against lightweight European champion Gavin Gwynne (17-3-1; 5).
Junior middleweight Louis Greene (17-4; 11) knocked out the previously unbeaten Jack McGann (9-1-1) in the first round. Time 1:29.
Cruiserweight Roman Fury (4-0; 1) brother of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, won on points over four rounds against Martin Svarc (2-1; 1).
Junior welterweight Ziyad Almaayouf (5-0; 1) outpointed Christian Lopez Flores (14-36-2; 12) over six rounds. Scores 60-54.