Title: The Resilient Gashi Loses to Lerena in South Africa
Senad Gashi (33), the boxing pro, was hoping to claim the interim WBC World Championship title in the Bridgerweight division (up to 101.6 kilos) in Johannesburg, South Africa. However, after 12 grueling rounds, the Hamburg boxing scene's beacon lost unanimously on points to local champion Kevin Lerena (31).
Lerena celebrated his victory on Instagram, writing, "We never gave an inch, not even a single step back. We faced a man with 30 fights, who had won 27 of them."
Gashi started on a promising note at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park. Lerena, the pressure, and Gashi, the swift counterpunches. Yet, Lerena gradually took control in front of boxing legend Lennox Lewis (58). Gashi was warned for low blows and spent time arguing with referee Michael Griffin. Despite this, he demonstrated tenacity, changing his stance, enduring powerful right hooks from "KO Kid" Lerena, and selling himself dearly in the thin mountain air.
The final round was intense. Gashi was penalized for another low blow, nearly counted out, and Lerena was left bleeding from his nose. The judges' scores were 117-110, 114-113, and 118-109 in favor of Lerena.
Reports suggest that Gashi's lackluster performances, such as the dull match against Derek Chisora that he lost via a unanimous points decision, might indicate struggles with maintaining peak intensity in his fights. However, Gashi's resilience and tenacity remained evident, despite the tough challenge in South Africa.
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Analysis:
Gashi's recent bouts, including the disappointing match against Derek Chisora, could indicate that he struggles to maintain a high level of intensity. This issue may have contributed to his loss against Kevin Lerena in Johannesburg. Despite these challenges, Gashi's resilience remains commendable, as he continued to fight with determination and tenacity.
