ORLANDO, FL – April 1, 2025– Today, MVP announced that MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 12 will return to the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, FL on Friday, May 9, available globally for free on both DAZN.com and the DAZN app with no subscription required with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter. The main card of Most Valuable Prospects 12, sponsored by CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, Fansly and Event Ticket Center, will be headlined by 25-year-old undefeated Cuban Olympian Dainier “The Fear” Pero (10-0, 8 KOs) in a 10-round heavyweight bout against 25-year-old Mexican heavyweight Cesar “Chaka” Navarro (13-2, 11 KOs). In the co-main event, Orlando, Florida’s Corey “2Smoove” Marksman (10-0-1, 7 KOs) will aim to preserve his undefeated record as he faces off against Huntington Beach, California’s fellow undefeated powerhouse Tayden “The Butcher” Beltran (10-0-1, 5 KOs) in an 8-round lightweight bout contested at 135 lbs. Tickets for Most Valuable Prospects 12 are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com.
Headlining the main card to defend his WBA Continental USA heavyweight title in a 10-round heavyweight fight is Cuban Olympian Dainier “The Fear” Pero (10-0, 8 KOs), the 25-year-old 6’5” talent who will make his fifth appearance on the Most Valuable Prospects series following his current six-bout TKO winning streak. Pero, coming to the ring from Orlando, Florida by way of Camaguey Cuba, has been a series regular and crowd favorite, competing on Most Valuable Prospects 5, 6, 7, and 10, where he most recently defeated Walter Burns in December 2024 in a sensational first-round TKO. Pero is promoted by Boxlab Promotions. Facing him will be 25-year-old heavyweight Cesar “Chaka” Navarro (13-2, 11 KOs). Navarro stands at 6’0” and comes to the ring from Phoenix, Arizona by way of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, known for his classic Mexican fighting style–aggressive, strong, and fast. He will look to test Pero’s rise in the division with his own sensational knockout power, having finished nine opponents by first round knockout so far in his pro career.
In the co-main event will be 24-year-old Florida native Corey “2Smoove” Marksman (10-0-1, 7 KOs) in an 8-round lightweight bout contested at 135 lbs. The talented prospect made a name for himself in his first major PPV appearance on the Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry main card in July 2024, in a rematch against Tony Aguilar. The pair’s first meeting resulted in a well-fought split decision draw, contested during MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 5 in February 2024. In the rematch, Marksman impressed, taking home a majority decision win. He now faces Huntington Beach, California’s undefeated powerhouse Tayden “The Butcher” Beltran (10-0-1, 5 KOs). Beltran has been making waves in the lightweight division since turning professional in September 2020. Known for his aggressive style and knockout power, the young prospect is eager to prove himself against a fellow rising prospect in Marksman.
“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,” said Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, co-founders of MVP. “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.”
Caribe Royale is proud to partner with MVP in bringing another dynamite boxing event to Orlando,” said Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions and Managing Director of the Caribe Royale Resort. “MVP continues its global growth just having done their first event in Canada, and now they return to Orlando showcasing the best young talent in boxing. We look forward to a spectacular event with this card that is stacked top to bottom!”
The Most Valuable Prospects series is produced and marketed by MVP with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter and is distributed globally by DAZN. The 12th event in the series will continue the commitment from MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian to highlight the world’s best up-and-coming boxing talent. All events within Most Valuable Prospects will take place on Friday nights in 2025. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker of lifestyle energy drink, is the exclusive energy drink sponsor of MVP and the Most Valuable Prospects series. Fansly and Event Ticket Center have also joined to sponsor the Most Valuable Prospects series.
For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions and @DAZNBoxing or on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions and @DAZNBoxing.
About MVP
MVP was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize returns for its own events and talent partners. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. MVP has produced Jake Paul’s last six global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Perry match. The promotion company also signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. MVP made history again in November 2024 with Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2, the first-ever live professional sports event on Netflix. MVP’s Paul vs. Tyson streamed live globally on Netflix and shattered records, becoming the most-streamed sporting event ever with 108 million live viewers globally. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of Paul vs. Tyson and the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.
About DAZN
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