Jarrell “Big Baby’ Miller will be paying close attention to Joshua-Parker fight

By Boxing News - 03/30/2018 - Comments

Image: Jarrell “Big Baby’ Miller will be paying close attention to Joshua-Parker fight

By Jim Dower: Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller (20-0-1, 18 KOs) is going to be keeping a close eye on IBF/WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and WBO champion Joseph Parker in their unification fight this Saturday night at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

Miller, 29, is expected to get a title shot against Joshua in the summer in his next fight if AJ gets past Parker.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn wants to match him against Miller in August, even though it’s a fight that will bring in far less money than a unification match against WBC heavyweight champion Deontay ‘Bronze Bomber’ Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs). Wants Joshua to face Miller in the U.S, because he believes it’ll make him a bigger name and help build an eventual fight between AJ and Wilder. It might not work out that way, but that’s how Hearn sees it. Hearn is willing to risk huge guaranteed money for a Joshua-Wilder fight by letting it marinate. This could all blowup in Hearn’s face if Joshua loses to Miller or if Wilder agrees to fight Dillian Whyte and winds up losing to him.

“A victory by Joshua will put me one step closer to joining him in the ring and will give me the chance that I’ve been working all my life to get and no one deserves this more,” Miller said to ESPN.com. “I’m the wildcard that’s going to shake this division up and give the fans what they want to see. I’m here to stay and I will get the respect I deserve. I will not be denied.”

Miller has a potentially risky fight next month against 6’5” former heavyweight world title challenger Johann Duhaupas (37-4-0, 24 KOs) on April 28 at the Barclays Center in New York. The Miller vs. Duhaupas fight is taking place on the undercard of the middleweight fight between former IBF 160lb. champion Daniel Jacobs and unbeaten junior middleweight contender Maciejl Sulecki. HBO Boxing will be televising the card. Duhaupas, 37, is a definite threat to beating Miller, as he’s got the size, mobility and more than enough punching power to beat him. Miller didn’t look so hot in his last two fights against Mariusz Wach and Gerald Washington. Miller won both fights, but he didn’t look like a world beater. Miller’s performances against Wach and Washington likely don’t have Joshua quaking in his boots from fear.

”My focus right now is to add another win on April 28th with a knockout victory over Johann Duhaupas and then ‘Big Baby’ Miller is coming for my heavyweight crown and my respect,” Miller said.

Hearn is eager to make the fight between Joshua and Miller. He obviously doesn’t view Miller as a threat to Joshua, because if he was, he’d be exactly where Luis Ortiz, David Haye and Wilder all are with them being frustrated that they’ve never been able to get a crack against him. Miller, 6’4” 300 lbs., has the size to give Joshua a lot of problems, but he’s so slow and hittable.

Washington had Miller hurt and on the brink of a knockout in the 5th round in their fight last July. Washington faded quickly in that round, and he wasn’t able to continue to fight hard, which was lucky for Miller. Joshua could get tired as well against Miller, but not before he’s punished him badly with shots for many rounds. It’s not likely that the referee will allow Miller to soak up punishment for too long against Joshua without stepping in and stopping the contest.