BoxRec

Lenar Perez to next fight Thabiso Mchunu in cruiserweight battle on September 3

Lenar Perez, the Cuban cruiserweight contender, will take on Thabiso Mchunu in a crossroads bout, staged by Eye Of The Tiger, on September 3 at the Casino de Montreal.

Perez, 16-0 (14 KOs), is fresh off another learning bout after going the full 10 while oupointing Isaac Chilemba in March.

Mchunu, 25-8 (14 KOs) and 38 years old, is 10 years older than his unbeaten opponent and has the extra experience to match. The South African southpaw has twice challenged for world titles.

In 2016 he was stopped by Oleksandr Usyk before, six years later, losing a split decision to Ilunga Makabu in a bid for the WBC cruiserweight belt. He can boast victories over fighters like Denis Lebedev, Eddie Chambers and Thomas Oosthuizen.

“Thabiso Mchunu has a wealth of experience against the very best in the world. This is exactly the kind of fight that will allow me to prove that I belong among the elite of the division myself," said Perez, a four-time Cuban national amateur champion who is ranked by all four sanctioning bodies in the cruiserweight class.

"We believe Lenar Perez is the best cruiserweight in the world, and while we wait for the opportunity to prove it against Jai Opetaia or David Benavidez, we intend to send a clear message to them and the entire division through Mchunu on September 3," added EOTTM President Camille Estephan.

The co-feature will be a local affair as Montreal fighters Moreno Fendero, 15-0 (11 KOs) and Stephane Fondjo, 15-2-1 (10 KOs) square off in a super middleweight bout.

Fight week!!

Tonight

Perez by Tko

Event Details

Date: September 3, 2026
Location: Cabaret du Casino de Montreal - Montreal, Quebec, Canada
TV/Stream: DAZN | Punching Grace
Start Time: 6:30 pm ET | 3:30 pm PT | 11:30 pm BST

Fight Card

WBA Continental Americas cruiserweight Championship
Lenar Perez (16-0, 14 KOs) vs. Thabiso Mchunu (25-8, 14 KOs)

WBC Continental Americas Super Middleweight Championship
Moreno Fendero (15-0, 11 KOs) vs. Stephane Fondjo (15-2-1, 10 KOs)

WBC Continental Americas & WBA Continental Americas Super Lightweight Championship
Jhon Orobio (18-0, 16 KOs) vs. Antonio Moran (31-8-1, 21 KOs)

8 Round Lightweight Bout
Wyatt Sanford (7-0, 3 KOs) vs. Costin Ion (11-5-2, 6 KOs)

4 Round Light Heavyweight Bout
Keven Beausejour (3-0, 3 KOs) vs. Leonel Silva Salas (1-0, 1 KO)

4 Round Super Middleweight Bout
Nickenson Denis (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Jaheem Estwick (1-2)

4 Round Super Featherweight Bout
Victor Tremblay (3-0, 3 KOs) vs. Kesny Joseph (1-1)

Results

Lenar Perez def. Thabiso Mchunu by TKO (R8)
Moreno Fendero def. Stephane Fondjo by unanimous decision (99-90, 97-92, 99-90)
Jhon Orobio def. Antonio Moran by TKO (R4)
Wyatt Sanford def. Costin Ion by TKO (R2)
Keven Beausejour def. Leonel Silva Salas by KO (R1)
Nickenson Denis def. Jaheem Estwick by TKO (R2)
Victor Tremblay def. Kesny Joseph by TKO (R3)

Had to get off the canvas but Perez got the job done, he was in control from the start using the most of his physical attributes, good jab, right hand breaking Mchunu up who fought in short spurts but round 5 a right hook from Mchunu dropped Perez out of nowhere, Perez looked hurt but he recovered well and and the next round an uppercut had Mchunu down, think he took it in the eye, Mchunu was nearly done and in the 8th a right cross had him down again before a few clubbing rights had him down for the ending

perez had a number of close calls and struggles already, i think he's a loss waiting to happen

Some of the worst mismatches in a long time were on this card.