Bob Santos believes he might just have the next great heavyweight on his hands.
Meet 2020 Olympian Dainier “The Fear” Pero, who is a 24-year-old Cuban heavyweight.
The 6ft 5ins prospect is 6-0 with four wins by way of knockout, but Santos is getting frustrated in being able to find Pero competition, given his ability.
“It is very difficult matching him right now,” Santos said. “He is a bigger version of Usyk. He is physically bigger than Usyk, but he has the boxing skills of Usyk.
“He has the foot speed, the hand speed, he is the complete package.
“He is also young, he just turned 24, and with heavyweights they mature late, so for a heavyweight [compared to any other weight class] he is like the equivalent of a 15-year-old.”
Not only does Santos see a comparison to one of the greatest modern heavyweights in Usyk, but he sees Pero as being similar to David Morrell, the fearsome Cuban super middleweight.
“He is the youngest ever to make the Olympic team in Cuba, that speaks volumes itself,” Santos added. “But if you watch his fights, he is the type of guy who, if needs to press forward, he will. He is a lot like [David] Morrell, they were on the same team together.”
Pero’s last fight was a second-round knockout of Joe Jones on a card promoted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions.
“[He is not] just a guy who is going to box off his back foot like [Guillermo] Rigondeaux, and I think he is going to bring a lot of excitement to the heavyweight division,” said the trainer.
Santos believes that Pero, who has an older brother – Lenier Pero, could make history as the first Cuban heavyweight world champion.
“I think he has a legitimate chance to become the first heavyweight Cuban champion in history,” Santos added. “Maybe his brother, Lenier, might beat him to that. I also coach him. Or maybe it will be Frank Sanchez, but I believe it will be one of those three, and probably whoever gets the first opportunity [at a world title].”
