Boxlab Promotions' rising undefeated heavyweight prospect, Dainier "The Fear" Pero, is set to face Indianapolis native Willie Jake Jnr in an eight-round heavyweight showdown on the undercard of the Tim Tszyu-Bakhram Murtazaliev event on October 19. The fight will take place at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida.
Pero sports an 8-0 record (6 KOs) and at 25, is far younger than most of the current or former heavyweight champions who remain active. A victory over Jake Jnr would keep his unblemished record intact, but also potentially help situate him for a title shot once the current generation of heavyweights ages into retirement.
"Jake Jnr is a tough opponent, and I know he'll come in with a lot of heart," Pero said. "But I've been training hard, and I'm ready to show that I'm on another level. A win here keeps my name in the mix as one of the top heavyweights to watch. Training in Las Vegas with Coach Bob Santos has been a game changer for me. The work we put in has sharpened my skills and taken my conditioning to a new level. I'm feeling stronger, faster, and more prepared than ever for this fight."
"Dainier has shown incredible growth and maturity as a fighter, especially over the past few months training under Bob Santos," Boxlab Promotions President Amaury Piedra said. "We're excited to see him take the next step in his career against Willie Jake Jnr. This fight will be another opportunity for him to display his skills and power on a big stage, and we're confident he'll rise to the occasion."
Jake (11-5-2, 3 KOs), 41, enters on a two-fight losing streak, including a notable stoppage loss to Top Rank prospect Richard Torrez Jnr.
Since signing with Boxlab Promotions, Pero has become a fan favorite at the Caribe Royale Hotel, where he has fought his last three bouts, scoring knockouts in each.