The always controversial Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller returned to action tonight, grinding out a hard fought 12 round unanimous decision over Cuban contender Lenier Pero in a WBA heavyweight final eliminator in the main event on DAZN at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
Brooklyn’s 37 year old Miller (28-1-2, 22 KOs), who previously edged Kingsley Ibeh by split decision in New York in January, added another win to his ledger in a physically taxing performance that once again leaned heavily on size, pressure, and accumulation.
Opposite him, Lenier Pero (13-1, 8 KOs), a Cuban southpaw based and training in Las Vegas under Bob Santos, entered the bout ranked No. 2 by the WBA and riding momentum from decision wins over Jordan Thompson and Detrailous Webster last year.
Miller started slowly across the first two rounds, but gradually took control as the fight settled into a grueling inside battle. The significant physical disparity Miller carrying at least a 50-pound advantage began to tell by the third and fourth rounds, as Pero showed visible signs of fatigue under sustained pressure.
In his post fight interview, Miller had this to say when asked about whether or not being leaner helped him out in tonight’s fight.” 100%,The weight came off really easy and we just wanted to work on conditioning since we had a short camp.”
From that point forward, Miller was able to dictate the terms in close quarters, turning the bout into his preferred type of phone booth fight where his size, strength, and weight advantage became increasingly decisive. While not a natural finisher, Miller’s consistent pressure, clinch work, and volume punching allowed him to steadily build a clear lead on the scorecards. Pero had sporadic success in spots, especially when he could create space, but those moments became fewer as the rounds progressed.
As the fight entered the championship rounds, the momentum was firmly in Miller’s favor. The bout had settled into a clear rhythm Miller pressing forward, Pero forced to survive exchanges and reset under pressure. It was not flashy, but it was effective and decisive in terms of scoring.
After 12 rounds, the judges returned scores of 117-111, 117-111, and 115-113, all in favor of Miller, who secured a clear unanimous decision in a physically punishing heavyweight contest.
REST OF THE CARD:
Alan Chaves def. Miguel Madueño by KO-3. A devastating knockout and early “Knockout of the Year” contender. Chaves showcased his power advantage from the opening bell, forcing Madueño into retreat mode before detonating a massive shot in round three that sent him down and out immediately.
Damian Sosa def. Freudis Rojas by UD-10. A classic case of pressure breaking precision. Rojas entered the fight as the more polished boxer on paper, but Sosa’s relentless pressure and high work rate quickly shifted the momentum. By the middle rounds, Sosa had taken full control after breaking Rojas down physically and mentally. All three judges scored it 96-93 for Sosa, in line with the unofficial scorecard.
Nishant Dev def. Juan Carlos Guerra Jr. by TKO 2. A dominant, one sided performance from Dev, who was clearly a level above from the opening bell. Guerra repeatedly walked into clean counters in reckless fashion, was dropped in the second round, and the bout was stopped at 2:57 of the same round. A clear showcase win for Dev, who handled business as expected.
