Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller and Lenier Pero meet in a 12-round WBA heavyweight title eliminator on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at BleauLive Theater inside Fontainebleau Las Vegas, live worldwide on DAZN starting at 8 PM ET.
The winner earns mandatory challenger status for the WBA world heavyweight title currently held by Oleksandr Usyk. Miller (27-1-2, 22 KOs) is trying to resurrect a career that stalled after a 2019 failed drug test cost him a shot at Anthony Joshua. Pero (13-0, 8 KOs), an unbeaten Cuban southpaw, is trying to turn a WBA #2 ranking into his first legitimate contender test. Here’s everything you need to know.
Key Points
- Main Event: Jarrell Miller (27-1-2, 22 KOs) vs. Lenier Pero (13-0, 8 KOs), 12 rounds, WBA heavyweight title eliminator
- Co-Main: Alan Abel Chaves (21-0, 18 KOs) vs. Miguel Madueno, 10 rounds, lightweight
- How to Watch: Live on DAZN worldwide, 8 PM ET main card start. Main event ringwalks approximately 10:45 PM ET / 11 PM ET
What’s at Stake
A WBA eliminator at heavyweight is genuinely meaningful in 2026. Usyk holds the Ring, IBF, and WBC belts alongside the WBA strap, and he’s set to defend against Rico Verhoeven on May 23 in Egypt. The mandatory queue behind Usyk is where a young contender can either step into a life-changing payday or watch a veteran reclaim relevance. Moses Itauma is the WBA’s current No. 1 contender, so whoever wins Saturday isn’t leapfrogging straight to the title, but they’re one fight away.
Main Event: Miller vs. Pero
Miller’s career is a story of wasted opportunity. The 37-year-old Brooklyn native built genuine momentum from 2017 to 2018 with stoppage wins over Gerald Washington, Mariusz Wach, Johann Duhaupas, Tomasz Adamek, and Bogdan Dinu. He was scheduled to fight Anthony Joshua in 2019 when he tested positive for multiple banned substances, killing the biggest opportunity of his career. The ensuing suspension erased his prime. He’s fought just six times in the six years since, including a 10th-round TKO loss to Daniel Dubois in December 2023, a majority draw with Andy Ruiz Jr. in August 2024, and a split decision win over Kingsley Ibeh at Madison Square Garden in January, memorably marred by his hairpiece coming loose mid-fight.
Miller is currently WBA #9. His style is pressure and volume at close range, relying on his frame and hand speed for a man his size, though he’s routinely tipped the scales north of 300 pounds in recent outings. Ring rust and conditioning over 12 rounds are the live questions.
Pero’s path is different. The 33-year-old southpaw competed for Cuba in the 2016 Olympics, reaching the super heavyweight quarterfinals before losing to eventual bronze medalist Filip Hrgovic. He sought asylum shortly after, was banned by Cuba for defecting, and didn’t turn pro until 2019. His first five pro fights were in Germany, Argentina, and Colombia before he settled in Florida.
Pero is 6’4″ with a 79-inch reach and Cuban amateur technical foundations. He’s won his last two by decision over Jordan Thompson and Detrailous Webster, and critics have questioned whether he’s done enough to justify his WBA #2 ranking. This is his first genuine step-up against a ranked, experienced opponent. His last stoppage win of note was a 2023 halting of then-unbeaten Viktor Vykhryst in eight rounds.
The odds reflect the uncertainty. Miller is around -160 at most books, with Pero at +120 to +130. Miller has the power advantage on paper. Pero has the craft, the conditioning, and the southpaw geometry.
Co-Main: Chaves vs. Madueno
Undefeated Argentinian knockout artist Alan Abel Chaves (21-0, 18 KOs) takes on Mexican veteran Miguel Madueno in a 10-round lightweight bout. Chaves has stopped his last four opponents, including a four-round TKO of Freddy Fonseca in July and a 57-second finish of Pablo Vicente in October. Matchroom signed him this spring and is fast-tracking him against genuine opposition. Madueno is the tough out Chaves needs to beat to justify the hype.
Full Fight Card
| Fight | Weight Class / Stakes |
|---|---|
| Jarrell Miller vs. Lenier Pero | Heavyweight, 12 rounds, WBA title eliminator |
| Alan Abel Chaves vs. Miguel Madueno | Lightweight, 10 rounds |
| Freudis Rojas vs. Damian Sosa | Light Middleweight |
| Angel Barrientes vs. Isaac Rojas Garcia | Super Bantamweight |
How to Watch Miller vs. Pero
- Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
- Venue: BleauLive Theater, Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Nevada
- Main Card: 8:00 PM ET on DAZN
- Main Event Ringwalks: Approximately 10:45 to 11:00 PM ET
- UK Broadcast: DAZN, 1:00 AM BST (Sunday)
- Price: Included with DAZN subscription
Follow BoxingWire for results and post-fight analysis from Miller vs. Pero.