Lenier Pero will end a 13-month layoff when he boxes Detrailous Webster in a 10-round contest for the WBA Continental Americas title on April 18.

The 32-year-old, armed with an extensive eight-year stint in the amateur ranks, will return with new backing live on DAZN after it was today announced he signed a co-promotional deal with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom and Boxlab Promotions.

"I'm excited to take this next step in my career with Matchroom and Boxlab Promotions as my co-promoters," Pero said.

"Together, we'll bring my journey to the world stage, and I'm ready to show everyone why I'm an undefeated force in the heavyweight division. The time is now to take my career to the next level."

Pero, who had an amateur rivalry with compatriot Frank Sanchez (25-1, 18 KOs) and faced the likes of double Olympic champion Bakhodir Jalolov (14-0, 14 KOs) and longtime contender Filip Hrgovic (17-1, 14 KOs) during his final year within the unpaid ranks, believes he has the tools to translate that success now.

Hearn spoke of their delight to welcome him to an ever-growing Matchroom stable, where the sport's glamour division is always brewing with new exciting names and fresh faces.

"The heavyweight division is always evolving, Lenier has the tools to become a real contender. We're excited to be working with Amaury and the Boxlab team on Lenier's progression, and we'll be looking for him to make a big impression on the division this year."

Boxlab CEO Amaury Piedra echoed that sentiment, saying that together they'll "take him to new heights" and showcase a future heavyweight champion entering his peak years.

Pero (11-0, 8 KOs) is currently ranked at No. 4 with the WBA and naturally wants to justify his high standing against better opposition.

Pero, who took a step back in competition after a career-best TKO8 win over fellow amateur standout and then 11-0 contender Viktor Faust in February 2023, scored a pair of first-round stoppage wins six months apart against Guillermo Ruben Andino and Donnie Palmer.

Argentina's Andino (19-10, 6 KOs) began his career at super-middleweight in 2013 and after a fourth-round stoppage loss to longtime light-heavyweight contender Radivoje Kalajdzic in 2021, campaigned at cruiserweight with mixed success.

Palmer meanwhile, was ending a 14-month layoff and most notably suffered a first-round knockout defeat by Joe Joyce this time seven years ago. He's only boxed five times since then.

Webster (9-4, 5 KOs) scored a first-round TKO win over unheralded compatriot Jaden Booth back in December but this title matchup represents his first over the ten-round distance, having completed six on eight previous occasions with contrasting results.