BoxRec

Dainier Pero faces Cesar Navarro atop MVP 12 in Orlando in May

Unbeaten Dainier Pero won five fights in 2024, while Cesar Navarro is riding a two-fight winning streak

Mexico’s Navarro (13-2, 11 KOs) is coming off two straight victories. The Phoenix, AZ-based 25-year-old TKO’d Jesus Adrian Haro Campos in the first round last November and knocked out Jorge Armando Martinez in the opening round last August.

Also confirmed for the MVP 12 fight card is an eight-round lightweight matchup between Corey Marksman and Tayden Beltran.

Marksman (10-0-1, 7 KOs) was scheduled to face Lucas Bahdi on the Paul vs Tyson prelims last November but was replaced by Armando Casamonica. Orlando’s 24-year-old won two fights in a row, defeating Tony Aguilar by majority decision in a rematch last July and Jonathan Perez by knockout in the first round last June.

26-year-old Beltran (10-0-1, 5 KOs) of Pomona, CA is fresh off a win via fourth-round TKO against Eugene Lagos in January.

“Most Valuable Prospects continues to be the ultimate proving ground for the next generation of boxing superstars to showcase their skills, and this card is stacked with serious talent ready to make their mark,” reads the statement from MVP co-founders Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul.

“Dainier Pero has been on a dominant run, and defending his WBA Continental USA heavyweight title against a dangerous opponent like Cesar Navarro is exactly the kind of test that will push him to the next level.”

“In the co-main, Corey Marksman and Tayden Beltran are two undefeated young killers, and only one of them is leaving with that zero intact on Friday, May 9th.”

“Thank you to Boxlab Promotions and DAZN for sharing our vision and giving these rising stars the platform to shine.”

Other bouts featured on the Most Valuable Prospects 12 fight card are expected to be confirmed shortly.

Never heard of navarro? Presumably he's been fighting at cruiser or in local pubs?

funso banjo baby wrote: ↑03 Apr 2025, 05:25 Never heard of navarro? Presumably he's been fighting at cruiser or in local pubs?

It's even worse than I thought. According to his boxrec stats....five years ago he was boxing at welterweight !!!!!!

funso banjo baby wrote: ↑04 Apr 2025, 06:28

funso banjo baby wrote: ↑03 Apr 2025, 05:25 Never heard of navarro? Presumably he's been fighting at cruiser or in local pubs?

It's even worse than I thought. According to his boxrec stats....five years ago he was boxing at welterweight !!!!!!

Tyson Fury did just lose to a middleweight the same size as his wife. Maybe Navarro has a chance...

Fight Week!!

Fight Night!!

Date: May 9, 2025
Location: Caribe Royale Orlando - Orlando, FL
Stream: DAZN
Start time: 8:30pm ET | 5:30 pm PT | 1:30 am BST

Event: MVP 12: Pero vs Navarro

Main Card

WBA Continental USA Heavyweight Championship
Dainier Pero vs. Cesar Navarro

8 Round Lightweight Bout
Corey Marksman vs. Tayden Beltran

8 Round Super Featherweight Bout
Kaipo Gallegos vs. Pedro Castaneda Castro

6 Round Bantamweight Bout
Natalie Dove vs. Nayeli Rodriguez

Prelims

6 Round Light Heavyweight Bout
Ariel Perez vs. Mario Bedolla Orozco

6 Round Super Featherweight Bout
Elise Soto vs. Colleen Davis

4 Round Welterweight Bout
Quincey Williams vs. Jose Edgardo Perdomo

6 Round Super Featherweight Bout
Jeremy Adorno vs. Jonathan Gabriel Pachado

That was a really good card.

Defo watch it back if you missed it live - no spoilers on a great main event.

Pero recovers from 2 knockdowns in round 3 to win a UD, 96-92 across the board, had it the same as well, Navarro had a good 1st but Pero opened him in the 2nd and had him bleeding already, round 3 though Navarro nailed him with a huge right which dropped Pero like a stone, he got up hurt and Navarro battered him forcing him down again from accumulation, there was still a couple minutes to go, looked certain he was knocking Pero out but he punched himself out and allowed Pero to recover , after that Pero took control of the fight as Navarro barely threw anything that landed, Navarro showed a good beard and plenty of heart but Pero outworked him in the remainder of the fight, jabbing and landing lefts and right hooks around the side piling up the points to pull out a deserved decision, Navarro will be wondering how the hell he allowed Pero to recover in that 3rd round, entertaining scrap

Get Most Valuable Prospects 12 full fight card results below.

Main card

Dainier Pero def. Cesar Navarro by unanimous decision (96-92, 96-92, 96-92)
Corey Marksman def. Tayden Beltran by TKO (R7, 2:41)
Kaipo Gallegos def. Pedro Castaneda Castro by RTD (R6, 3:00)
Natalie Dove vs. Nayeli Rodriguez – unanimous draw (38-38, 38-38, 38-38)

Prelims

Ariel Perez def. Mario Bedolla Orozco by unanimous decision (60-54, 60-54, 60-54)
Jeremy Adorno def. Jonathan Gabriel Pachado by TKO (R1 at 2:59)
Elise Soto vs. Colleen Davis – No Contest (Davis cut due to clash of heads, R2, 2:00)
Quincey Williams def. Jose Edgardo Perdomo by KO (R4, 2:11)

That was a bit if a war. Not sure why Pero wanted to trade like that? Its one of those matchups that looks exciting but I think it was just the matching of styles. We've probably found Pero's level, I can't see him making a dent in a higher level.

I thought Pero was done after the first knockdown. Very good bout.