LENIER Pero may have just signed a new promotional pact, but younger brother Dainier has Oleksandr Usyk-shaped similarities and is ready for fellow unbeaten heavyweight standout Moses Itauma, according to the 25-year-old's coach Bob Santos.

Pero (10-0, 8 KOs) hasn't fallen victim to the same contractual disputes his older sibling did, now enjoying a six-fight stoppage streak after five consecutive knockout victories in 2024 -- ending with a first-round finish against then 8-2 veteran Walter Burns in Orlando on a DAZN show last December.

He'll be joined on the platform by decorated amateur brother Lenier (11-0, 8 KOs) starting next month, with Santos declaring them the "Cuban Klitschkos" in conversation with Boxing Scene.

Santos touched on Pero being nominated for Ring Magazine's Prospect of the Year in 2024, an award ultimately clinched by WBO's No. 2-ranked contender Moses Itauma (11-0, 9 KOs), before declaring his charge one of the world's best young prospects.

"Didn’t win it, but was in the top five in all weight classes. And by everybody’s account, he’s one of the best young fighters in the world. The 2020 Olympian, the youngest Cuban to do it, so I’m very excited about both brothers.”

Pero suffered a split decision loss in Tokyo to eventual silver medallist Richard Torrez Jr (12-0, 11 KOs), with his Top Rank-backed agemate set to make his 2025 bow in Las Vegas next weekend over ten rounds against Italy's Guido Vianello (13-2-1, 11 KOs).

The old adage that heavyweights reach their prime later than most other divisions is a belief Santos shares, given how Usyk turned 38 in January and has reigned supreme across the sport's two heaviest weight classes.

"The only problem we're having with him [Dainier] right now at 25 years old, nobody wants to get in the ring with him. We've offered guys career-high paydays. One of the fights we had, we went through 17 opponents for career-high paydays and couldn't get one of them in the ring."

Queensberry are finding themselves with an expensive predicament for Itauma in the same vein. The high-risk, low-reward consideration is no longer in play given he's highly ranked across two of the four major sanctioning bodies and it's feasible the titles will fragment before much longer, aware Usyk himself has a two-fight plan after which he plans to retire.

"I'm not saying he's gonna be Usyk, but he could do a lot of things Usyk can. Obviously when the money comes, we'll see if the hunger and desire's still there. If that's the case, the skillset's there. I think he can do a plethora of different things and he's actually bigger than Usyk."

Santos said he was impressed with Itauma, but pointed to the sheer discrepancy in their amateur experience as a key factor behind his confidence matching them together next.

"I'll tell you what, we'll be ready for it [Itauma], willing and able. We would love that fight. I think, obviously the promoters are probably gonna wanna marinate it. Sometimes as coaches, we'd like to get in there sooner rather than later. I wouldn't mind doing that fight next. If we can get it done to go into the next fight, we'll fight Itauma no problem.

I'm very impressed with him, just think my guy has more experience with the Cuban amateur pedigree in the Olympics; he's been doing this since he was eight years old - sometimes that's hard to match in the pros. I think we got a plethora more experience than he did from the amateurs. I don't know if the promoters would be willing, but I would."

Former IBF world titleholder Charles Martin (30-4-1, 27 KOs) called Itauma out last month, while a returning Filip Hrgovic (17-1, 14 KOs) featured on the 20-year-old's shortlist of potential names to face later this year.

WBO's No. 1-ranked contender Justis Huni (12-0, 7 KOs) underwent elbow surgery to repair a longstanding issue last month and his manager Mick Francis told The Ring they'd take that matchup in a heartbeat. As reported by The Ring last week, Itauma will make his first appearance of 2025 in Glasgow on May 24.