Kevin Lerena retains IBO  Crown Against Artur Mann on Saturday.

South African Kevin Lerena, 22-1-(10), retained his IBO cruiserweight title via fourth round tko win over Germany’s Artur Mann, 15-1-(8) at the Emperors Palace near Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa on Saturday.

The opening round was pretty even as both boxers looked for openings and blocked punches. The next two rounds mirrored the first but in the third round Lerena stepped up the pace late on to finish with his nose in front. Lerena stormed out in the fourth round, connecting with some heavy left and right hand combinations that eventually wobbled Mann until an uppercut and a series of rights and lefts to the head decked him. Mann rose on unsteady legs but another right hook and left hand to the head decked Mann again until referee Jean Robert Laine stepped in to stop the contest after 2. 37 to save Mann from further punishment.

Other results

Middleweight: Boyd Allen w tko 11 John Bope

Light heavyweight Frank Rodrigues w pts 10 Michael Markram

Light-heavyweight: Xhek Paskali, draw 6, Alex Kabangu

Middleweight: Roarke Knapp w tko 2 Thembani Mhlanga,

Cruiserweight: Keaton Gomes w pts 8 Faradji Said

Welterweight: Gift Bolo w pts 6 Timo Schwerzkopf