Lenier Pero wants to carve a heavyweight legacy of his own

Lenier Pero can take a look at the success of latest heavyweights from Cuba, together with Luis Ortiz and Frank Sanchez, for motivation and steering. As an alternative, he desires to create his personal path in direction of success.

The unbeaten Pero has been profitable up to now, hoping to maneuver into contender standing with every victory. 

Pero will face Viktor Faust Saturday evening in an intriguing battle between unbeaten prospects on the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The ten-round bout will open the three-bout Showtime Championship Boxing telecast (9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT).

At Friday’s weigh-in, Pero weighed in at 242.8 kilos. Faust weighed 234 kilos. 

The southpaw Pero (8-0, 5 knockouts), who’s initially from Camaguey, Cuba and now resides in Miami, Florida, has fought as soon as on Showtime programming. That battle occurred on January 1 of final 12 months, defeating Geovany Bruzon by unanimous choice in a conflict of unbeaten prospects. 

In his final bout on August 20, Pero notched a vicious knockout victory over Joel Caudle. The 30-year has demonstrated extra energy and aggression in latest fights, having stopped 4 of his final 5 opponents. 

Pero will face one other unbeaten heavyweight in Faust (11-0, 7 KOs), who additionally fought on that January 1 card, overcoming two knockdowns to cease Iago Kiladze within the second spherical. Faust has additionally displayed an aggressive fashion, however Pero is assured he’s the higher general fighter who can modify to any fashion within the ring. 

“I’ve the benefit of being the more-complete fighter than him,” Pero informed The Ring Thursday afternoon. “I can battle from distance and might battle on the within. I’ve been on the quick monitor early on in my profession, having fought eight and 10 rounds. I’ve additionally fought on Showtime as properly. I wouldn’t have any nerves and I received’t be nervous going into the battle on Saturday.”

Pero has confronted obstacles exterior the ring, together with an try and safe a visa to enter and reside in the US. It was a protracted highway that started when Pero tried to hunt asylum on the Argentine embassy in Havana. When phrase broke out that Pero tried to hunt asylum, gyms all through the nation banned him, leaving him to coach himself together with the assistance of a pal.

By means of luck, his utility for asylum was expedited faster than regular, permitting him to go away Cuba and enter Argentina. Pero would battle his first three bouts in Germany, and his following bouts in Argentina and Colombia, respectively, earlier than making his U.S. debut towards Bruzon the earlier January. 

Pero is grateful for the folks that helped him obtain his dream of coming to the US.

“It was unbelievable to have folks by my facet,” stated Pero, who’s represented by Shane Shapiro. “I used to be capable of see how Yordenis Ugas made a brand new life for himself in the US. I look as much as Luis Ortiz, however I felt it was finest to do what I did. Ready nearly three years to enter Argentina, then combating in the US, then combating on Showtime, it’s a protracted highway, however I’m glad I used to be capable of notice my dream.”

With a brand new coach in Bob Santos, Pero feels he has grow to be a more-complete fighter.

Pero doesn’t take something without any consideration. So long as Pero wins, and does so impressively, he can rely on combating once more on Showtime programming.

“I’m not smug,” stated Pero, who has sparred the likes of Johnnie Rice. “I’m humble. I’m managed properly and I’ve an excellent coach in Bob Santos.

“I’ve dealt with stress properly and have been capable of overcome obstacles in my life. I take a look at life and take it one battle at a time. So I take a look at the battle towards Faust as yet one more win to then look forward. I proceed to develop as a fighter and look to get higher with every outing. 

Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has lined boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He could be reached at [email protected]

Observe @FSalazarBoxing