Dainier Pero’s goal is to become the first Cuban heavyweight titleholder. He fought five times this year, winning each fight by knockout. His latest victory was a first-round knockout of Walter Burns.
Pero, a 2020 Cuban Olympian who lost to Richard Torrez in the quarter finals, is now training in Las Vegas and he’s set his sights on following in the footsteps of some big names.
“Mike Tyson and Anthony Joshua set the standard for guys like me trying to make it big. They were named Ring Magazine’s ‘Prospect of the Year’ early in their careers, and being compared to them is a huge honor.”
Mike Tyson started his professional career in 1985 with 15 wins and followed that in 1986 with another 13 triumphs, which included winning his first heavyweight title.
Such hectic scheduling doesn’t exist anymore and even Joshua fought only seven times in 2014 prior to winning his prospect award.
“It reminds me I’ve still got work to do, but it also shows I’m heading in the right direction,” Pero said.
His trainer, Bob Santos, added: “He hasn’t lost one second of any of his fights this year. He’s in the most dangerous weight class in boxing.”
Santos believes given the danger of the division and the way Pero has been fighting; he should get the same honor bestowed upon Tyson and Joshua.
There remains the need for care during development, however. Santos recalled a fight he worked early in his career in which a heavyweight prospect, and an Olympic alternate, got knocked out.
“The opponent ended up falling out, and they brought this guy in at the last minute,” Santos said. “He came into the event, and he was in the back drinking a beer. They said: He has nobody to work his corner.”
Santos ended up stepping in and asked what condition he was in.
“In no condition at all,” came the answer. “I just got here.” Santos told him to stop drinking beer and go for broke.
“That guy hit the heavyweight prospect who was undefeated, and ended up stopping him,” Santos said. “These are big guys. He caught him off-guard and ended up stopping him. To me it is the most dangerous weight class there is, and I think everybody would agree with that.”
It’s not been easy to get the right fights for Pero, however.
“You can only fight at the level of competition that people will put in the ring in the ring with you,” Santos said. “I will give you an example. The Samoan who fought Gurgen Hovannsyan [Patrick Mailata] was offered double to fight us.”
Pero’s promoter, Amaury Piedra, the President of BoxLab Promotions agreed with Santos’ assessment.
“We were laughing during the last show on December 13, that it takes longer to match Pero than it does the rest of the card,” Piedra said. “I know our matchmakers have fits with it.
“I see Pero as a contender for Prospect of the Year. He should definitely be in that conversation.”
More than anything, Pero just wants the chance to progress.
“I believe I can reach the top, but talent alone isn’t enough to get there,” Pero said. “You need hard work, heart, and to stay humble as you grow. Every fight gets me closer, and I never take that for granted.
“Cuba has a long history of great boxers, but no Cuban heavyweight has ever been world champion,” he continued. “That’s the goal. I fight for that every time I step in the ring. The legends before me inspire me, and I truly believe that with hard work and faith, I can make history for my country.”
