The Cuban scored a 97-93, 97-93 and 96-93 unanimous decision to maintain his status as a heavyweight star, but perhpas did not find the statement win he arguably wanted.

Thompson, stepping up from cruiserweight over two years after his IBF title fight loss to Jai Opetaia, struggled to find his rhythm in the early exchanges at Caribe Royale Orlando.

Pero repeatedly went to the body throughout the first half, and despite his opponent rallying in the eighth, had more than enough on the board to see off any late challenge too.

Victory moves the star closer to a likely shot against a leading WBA contender, with only Moses Itauma above him in the ranks beneath Oleksandr Usyk and Kubrat Pulev.

Brown meanwhile made it five from five in his professional career as the highly rated Mancunian made short work of his opponent on the undercard for his United States debut.

Off the back of a first stadium show success against Austine Nnamdi at Belfast's Windsor Park in September, the Paris 2024 star reiterated his brutal ability to finish fights fast.

Valera, who previously went the distance with Dmitry Bivol almost a decade ago, was dropped multiple times en-route to a second-round KO loss, and moves to 24-9.

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