Heavyweight Dainier Pero sees himself as a prospect – but not for much longer.

The Cuban returns to the ring on Friday against Cesar Navarro at Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida. The bout will be telecast on DAZN.

Pero, 10-0 (8 KOs), 25, a 2020 Cuban Olympian, was in the running for prospect of the year in 2024. Though he didn’t win the award, his six-fight knockout streak has made him stand out, while his trainer Bob Santos continues to praise him to whoever will listen. Pero reflected on where he stands in the heavyweight division when he said: “I’m still in the prospect stage, but I’m coming up fast. It’s been hard getting these guys in the ring with me. Soon I will be a top contender in the conversation with all the top guys.”

Santos, Pero’s coach, has famously stated that he has had multiple opponents offered career-high paydays only for the bouts to be declined. Pero’s toughest test has been outside the ring and getting opponents to sign up to fight him. In fact, Santos said 17 opponents had turned down Pero.

“I’m climbing up the rankings, and everyone is starting to know my name,” Pero said. “I believe with a few more fights, I’ll be ranked high enough to land a big fight against a top contender.”

Navarro, 13-2 (11 KOs), also 25, enters on a two-fight knockout streak since a loss to Fernely Feliz Jnr on ProBox TV. Navarro, of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, will be fighting for the first time in 2025.

“This fight is a level up,” Pero said. “I believe Navarro is a dangerous fighter with a lot to prove. He has real power, and it’s going to be a tough fight.”

Navarro has never been stopped as a professional. Pero, the Cuban contender who trains in Las Vegas, is looking to separate himself from his peers by changing that.

“Every fight is different, but I’m always going to look for the KO,” Pero said. “My goal is to break him down and go from there."