Lenar Perez vs Thabiso Mchunu Preview September 3rd, 2026
Unbeaten Lenar Perez of Cuba will be meeting aging veteran Thabiso Mchunu of South Africa this Thursday, September 3rd. The 10-round cruiserweight showdown from the Montreal Casino in Canada can be seen live on DAZN in most nations. Mchunu last fought in April when he stopped Kareb Shitana in the first round. This is just the sixth fight for Mchunu since 2019. Perez last stepped into the ring in March when he shut out Isaac Chilemba over 10 rounds.
Perez vs Mchunu Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Thabiso Mchunu +900
- Lenar Perez -2000
My Pick
The 28-year-old Perez was born in Cuba and now fights out of Russia. He had an excellent amateur career as he was a two-time Under-19 Cuban National Champion and placed third at the 2017 Cuban Championships. He turned pro in 2014 and has boxed 71 rounds since with a current perfect record of 16-0 with 14 Ko’s. He’s certainly known for his power with a knockout ratio of 87.5 per cent. He’s gone the distance just twice once as a pro and they were in his last two outings. He edged Eleksei Egorov over 10 rounds via a split decision in April, 2025 and then whitewashed Mchunu in his last outing.
However it should be noted that just his last eight opponents entered the ring with a winning record and he’s never fought a contender. This will be just his second fight outside of Europe, both coming in Montreal. Perez measures 6-feet-5-inches tall so has great size for a cruiserweight by unfortunately there’s no information available for his reach. He’s fought his entire pro career as a cruiserweight though. Perez possesses size, skills and power and stepped up in class for the first time against Chilemba.
Mchunu is 38-year-old southpaw who climbs into the ring with a record of 25-8 with 14 Ko’s. He’s boxed 238 rounds since making his pro debut in 2007. He had a brief amateur career and was once stopped by current WBC and IBF Light Heavyweight Champion Artur Beterbiev in the third round back in 2006. Mchunu stands 5-feet-10-inches tall with a 72.5-inch reach so gives up seven inches in height to Perez. He owns just above average power as 56 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage with just one of them coming since 2019.
Since turning pro he’s won the interim WBA Pan African, the NABF, the African Boxing Union, the WBA Pan African, the WBC Silver and the South African Cruiserweight Titles. His biggest wins have been against ‘Fast’ Eddie Chambers, Olanrewaju Durodola, Garrett Wilson, Johnny Muller, Ricards Bolotniks, Thomas Oosthuizen and Denis Lebedev. He’s is more of a defensive counterpuncher with good speed and foot work along with decent power but has been stopped in three of his eight defeats.
Mchunu isn’t one of the most exciting boxers out there and often tries to sit on a lead when he’s clearly ahead on points. This cost him in his first fight against Ilunga Junior Makabu when he was stopped in the 11th round in 2015. He then lost a split decision to Makubu in their 2022 rematch in a shot at the WBC Cruiserweight Title. He was stopped by Zack Mwekassa in the sixth round in 2011 and by current Heavyweight Titlist Oleksandr Usyk in the ninth stanza in a shot at the WBO Cruiserweight Crown in 2016.
His other losses were to Constantin Bejenaru by 10-round unanimous decision in 2017; a 12-round majority decision to Thomas Oosthuizen in their first meeting in 2018; a 10-round split decision to Yamil Peralta in a shot at the vacant WBC Silver Cruiserweight Title in 2024 and a 10-round unanimous decision to Muslim Gadzhimagomedov in 2025. Between January 2022 and January, 2025 Mchunu lost all three of his fights but has bounced back with two wins over mediocre opposition.
Prediction…
Mchunu’s record is just 9-7 over his last 16 fights and at the age of 38 he’s 10 years older than Perez. He’s also seven inches shorter and has far less power. Basically, he comes in second best to Perez in size, power and skills. However Mchunu does have a wide edge in experience and is also quite durable. Even so, I’m expecting Perez to try and break him down and he should eventually stop him or cruise to a decision.
Perez should eventually halt Mchunu.
Play: Perez -2000 @ BetOnline.ag
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Lenar Perez betting • Thabiso Mchunu betting