The South African's full-time sparring partner was selected for the South African's heavyweight debut. Bogdan Dinu (20-4, 16 KOs) from Romania. From the very beginning of the fight, the Johannesburg native took over the advantage, although the first two rounds went at a slow pace. In the fourth three-minute period, Lerain was able to send a taller opponent to the floor with a right hook. Dinu got up at the count of eight, but soon, after a new series of blows missed, the fight was stopped.
As a result of the fight, Lerena tried on the vacant WBA Intercontinental Champion title and will probably soon make his debut in the Association's rating in a new weight.