Over to boxing where Kevin Lerena will make his first IBO Cruiserweight title defence this weekend. The South African will be fighting on home soil, just outside Johannesburg, and will look to keep his four-year winning streak intact as he gets into the ring against Ukrainian Dymtro Kucher. And as our Sias du Plessis explains, it was a loss many years ago that helped him become the current champion.

Losing isn't an option for Kevin Lerena, the southpaw is determined to maintain his unbeaten run which stretches over 4 years and knows that he will need to be mentally tough to see off his Ukrainian opponent this weekend, but the champion believes the one defeat back in 2014, shaped him into a smarter and tougher fighter.

KEVIN LERENA IBO CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION "I think I have evolved as a fighter. I'm more skilled, more mature, but most importantly for this fight camp, I would say it is the hardest I have worked and the best mental space I have been in. So on a mental level, I'm the fittest and the strongest I've been and physically everybody works hard at the top, but mentally I am 100% tuned in for this fight."

The burly Lerena says that being at the summit of his weight division does mean he faces added pressure ahead of the fight, but he is confident that he can handle the rigours that come with his quest for cruiserweight supremacy.

KEVIN LERENA IBO CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION "The pressure does increase, you know obviously there is no pressure at the beginning of your career when you are unknown and you are fighting unknown guys with no names. There is no pressure whatsoever, but as you start to climb the ladder and you are at the top and the more people are watching, but I think I thrive on that pressure."

The Johannesburg-born fighter knows he faces a stern challenge against his highly-rated foreign opponent, but maintains that he has a point to prove on Saturday night.

KEVIN LERENA IBO CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION "I know he is tough, he is going to be there, but I want to prove that hard work can pay off and that everybody knows that and too skills pay the bills and Peter Smith has taken my skill set to the next level. So I am ready for whatever Dymtro Kucher brings and I am ready to show Africa I'm not Junior Makabu, I'm Kevin Lerena and I am here to make a statement.

SIAS DU PLESSIS JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA Kevin Lerena goes into the 21st pro fight of his career with one thing on his mind and that is to add the 20th victory to his impressive CV. This though potentially could be his toughest assignment yet as IBO cruiserweight champion of the world, but the 25-year-old is confident he has prepared sufficiently to see off the challenge from the Ukrainian who is yet to be stopped in 24 fights, Sias du Plessis, CGTN, Johannesburg.