Jarrell Miller Defeats Lenier Peró by Unanimous Decision in WBA Heavyweight Eliminator, Calls Out Deontay Wilder

Jarrell Miller has positioned himself firmly in the heavyweight title conversation after outlasting Lenier Peró via unanimous decision in a WBA heavyweight eliminator held at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.

The bout produced a combined 1,652 punches thrown across 12 rounds, reflecting the high-tempo nature of the contest from the opening bell.

Peró made a composed start to the fight, landing clean, heavy shots in the early stages that put Miller on the back foot. A hard left hook in the opening round was among the most impactful blows, and the Cuban followed it up in the second with a structured attack combining jabs, body shots, and uppercuts that kept Miller cautious.

The contest began to turn in the third round. Miller increased his physical presence, backing Peró toward the ropes and working in high-volume combinations. From that point forward, he dictated the tempo, consistently targeting both the head and body while forcing Peró into a more reactive, defensive posture.

Miller’s output over the full 12 rounds was a decisive factor. He threw 1,003 punches in total, landing 290 for a connect rate of 29%. Peró, by contrast, demonstrated superior accuracy — landing 253 of 648 punches for a 39% connect rate — but was unable to sustain his early aggression against Miller’s relentless forward pressure in the championship rounds.

When the scorecards were read, all three judges favoured Miller: 117-111, 117-111, and 115-113.

Speaking after the fight, Miller reflected on his tactical approach. “I knew Peró was going to be tough, but I expected him to move a lot more,” he said. “I wasn’t looking for the knockout. I wanted to see what my conditioning was like and get back to throwing a lot of punches.”

With the WBA eliminator victory secured, Miller wasted little time in identifying his next target, calling out former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.

Miller, who previously tested positive for multiple banned substances in 2019 — which led to the cancellation of his scheduled IBF heavyweight title fight against Anthony Joshua — has been working to re-establish himself as a legitimate contender in the division. This result represents a significant step in that process.

The heavyweight landscape remains active. Joshua vs Fury has also recently been confirmed, according to reports, adding further intrigue to the division’s near-term outlook and making Miller’s positioning through the WBA rankings increasingly relevant.