By Patrick McHugh: Undefeated heavyweight contender Jarrell Miller (18-0-1, 16 KOs) did what he said he was going to do last night in stopping the capable Fred Kassi (18-6-1, 10 KOs) in the 3rd round on Showtime Boxing from the Rhinos Stadium in Rochester, NY. Miller, also known as “Big Bady”, trashed the top heavyweight champions Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury, letting Showtime audience know what he personally thinks of these three champions.
The 28-year-old Miller is just itching for the chance to challenge one of them, because he feels he’s got the talent to unseat them. It’s going to be exciting to see if Miller can do that because at this rate, he should be in range for a world title shot by 2017, possibly 2018 if the sanctioning bodies move him up slowly.
Miller is ranked #7 WBO, #9 IBF, #9 WBA. Miller’s best chance for a world title right now would appear to be Fury if he keeps getting pushed up the rankings. If Miller keeps winning, Joshua might give him a chance for the sake of wanting an unbeaten heavyweight that he can fight on Showtime that is recognizable to the U.S boxing public.
Joshua recently signed a multi-fight contract with Showtime, and he’s already beaten two Americans in a row.
“Let’s talk about all these heavyweights. Tyson Fury, he doesn’t want this work,” said Miller. “He’s always complaining. He’s always sick or something. I don’t know what’s wrong with him. Wilder, every five minutes he breaks another finger. Look, it’s just a matter of time before these guys are going to have to put up or shut up. Anthony Joshua, that’s going to be a mega-fight. I am just begging for him to call my name.”
.@BIGBABYMILLER calls out heavyweight champs @Tyson_Fury, @anthonyfjoshua & @BronzeBomber. #ShoBox #Boxinghttps://t.co/yubp8PfPeM
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) August 20, 2016
Last night, Miller showed some good at bad things in forcing a stoppage after the third round. He was landing some really nice right hands to the head and body of Kassi in rounds two and three. The power that Miller has in his right hand is formidable. The 6’4” Miller has major power in his right hand. What he lacks is stamina.
Miller was definitely looking tired by the end of round three. If you look at the round closely, you’ll see Miller landing a handful of hard right hand punches, but then gassing out badly towards the end of the round. Miller was wide open for shots to the head during all the rounds but especially in round three. Miller’s habit of keeping his guard low to protect his soft midsection left his head wide open to anything that Kassi threw at him.
Miller was lucky that Kassi wasn’t a puncher because if he had any power at all, he would have been hitting him at will right shots to the head. This is clearly a training issue with Miller. He needs to get with a good trainer so that he lean to get his guard up and protect his vulnerable head because he won’t last more than a round against the likes of Joshua, Wilder or David Haye. Fury isn’t a big puncher, but he would toy with Miller with the way he’s fighting right now. It would be too easy for Fury. These guys are heavyweight champions for a reason. They have great fundamental skills and it took them a long time to learn the skills. Miller still needs a lot of work before he’s ready to compete against the best.
Miller seems to be trying to talk his way into a title shot rather than fighting his way. His opponents have not been very good and that includes Kassi. It would be refreshing if Miller took the more traditional old school approach to fighting his way to a title shot by taking on the very best heavyweights in the division and beating them one by one until he’s recognized as the No.1 contender. At least by fighting the best, Miller would be showing the boxing fans that he’s a different breed of fighter from the many contenders that talk their way to a title shot nowadays rather than fighting their way.
Wilder recently broke his right hand and tore his bicep on his right arm in his fight against Chris Arreola last month. That was the third time that Wilder broke his right hand. The chronic hand injuries are something that you need to be concerned with long term. Wilder can’t keep breaking his hand like this and keep winning. He’ll eventually get beaten due to him breaking his hand and being forced to fight one-armed against the wrong fighter.
Miller will eventually get a title shot against one of the champions, and he’ll have to put up or shut-up. Hopefully, Miller doesn’t turn out to be a big fake like so many other contenders in the various divisions that have talked their way into title shots and then failed to produce on a grand scale.