By Jeff Aranow: Heavyweight contender Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller’s promoter Dmitry Salita maintains that he’s the best American heavyweight in the division today, and he says he would beat WBC champion Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury. Those two recently fought to a 12 round split draw this month on December 1 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The 315 lb Miller will be fighting in January against an opponent still to be determined.
Miller’s management are looking to set him up to fight for the vacant World Boxing Association ‘regular’ heavyweight title in 2019. When Miller does fight for the WBA belt, he’s not expected to face a good fighter that will prove he’s the best U.S heavyweight, as his promoter says. Miller will likely wind up fighting Trevor Bryan or Fres Oquendo for the vacant WBA strap.
“I think Jarrell, just on a pure skill boxing level, would have beaten both of those guys on that night,” said Salita to skysports.com in talking about Fury and Wilder. “I feel that Jarrell is the best American heavyweight in the world.”
Jarrell’s next opponent is being decided by Salita for his January fight. Based on what Salita saw of Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury on December 1, he feels Miller is definitely the best fighter in the States. Fury (27-0-1, 19 KOs) fought Wilder (40-0-1, 39 KOs) to a standstill. Neither fighter could get the edge, although many in the boxing world saw Fury winning by a small margin. The two will be fighting in a rematch in the first quarter of 2019.
Miller defeated 33-year-old Bogdan Dinu by a 4th round knockout last month on a Matchroom Boxing USA show on DAZN on November 17 at the Kansas Star Arena, Mulvane, Kansas. For Miller to return just two months after his victory over Dinu, it suggests that he won’t be facing a quality heavyweight that will give him a good test. The thing that is frustrating for boxing fans about Miller is the way he’s being matched by his promoter Eddie Hearn. Miller isn’t being put in with guys that can potentially beat him like Luis ‘King Kong’ Ortiz, Adam Kownacki, Joseph Parker, Kubrat Pulev, Alexander Povetkin or Joe Joyce.
“Miller versus Joshua is the next biggest fight,” Salita said. “I don’t know in which order it goes, but those are two big, big fights in the heavyweight division.”
Salita believes that Miller is improving with each fight. Again, it’s not easy to tell due to the type of opposition he’s being fed.
Miller still hasn’t been ruled out for Anthony Joshua’s next fight on April 13 at Wembley Stadium in London, England. However, if Miller does fight in January, then that would likely ruin his chances of facing Joshua in April. Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn will need to ink an opponent long before January. He can’t wait until Miller fights in January to sign someone to face AJ on April 13.
Salita will match Miller against the best heavyweight he can find for him. If he can put him in with a good heavyweight, it would be a positive for the boxing world. At least they would be able to see if ‘Big Baby’ Miller is as good a fighter as he is a talker. As of right now, Miller hasn’t proven that he’s the #1 heavyweight in the United States. Deontay Wilder is still the man until he’s beaten.