Newly crowned Cruiserweight Super 4 champion Kevin "KO Kid" Lerena is delighted to have earned recognition from the ratings committees of boxing's top three world sanctioning bodies.

The charismatic former jockey outpointed Micki Nielsen from Denmark over 10 rounds at Emperors Palace to take home 60% of the $100000 (R1.4-million) purse money on Saturday night.

Lerena, 24, told Sowetan yesterday that his victory has earned him the No 8 spot in the WBC, 10th in the WBA and fourth in the IBF rankings.

"I am delighted," said the champion whose corner was manned by the Smith brothers, Peter and Shaun, the sons of former SA light heavyweight champion Kosie Smith.

But the fight at Emperors was a closely contested affair, which saw both left-handers wrestling each other for the better part of the 10 rounds.

But Lerena vehemently denied spending time in the ring holding Nielsen.

"I was tying him up so that he could not throw his punches and that strategy worked," he explained.

"But when I let go my punches, I hurt him. I actually started hurting from round six. He was wobbly, not me."

In his most recent fights, Lerena dominated vastly experienced Argentinian Roberto Feliciano Bolonti and stopped Johnny Muller in 10 rounds.

However, there was very little evidence of that characteristic last weekend against Nielsen.

Local judge Jaap van Niewenhuizen scored the fight 95 apiece.

Jean-Robert Laine from France and Berit Andreasen from Denmark scored it 96-95 and 97-93 for Lerena, who improved to 16 wins against one defeat.

Nielsen, 23, suffered his first defeat after 22 straight wins.