By Allan Fox: Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller (23-0-1, 20 KOs) has confirmed that he’s been given his first offer from his co-promoters at Matchroom Boxing for a fight against IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (22-0, 21 KOs). Miller, 30, says the fight with Joshua, if he gets it, will take place in June in New York City.
It’s obviously not a good feeling to be the backup option for Joshua in case his promoter Eddie Hearn can’t put together a deal with Whyte (25-1, 18 KOs) for April 13, but Miller doesn’t have much choice. He doesn’t bring as much to the table for Joshua than Whyte, as he’s from the UK and already a pay-per-view attraction with Sky Box Office.
“There was an offer made earlier today, as a matter of fact,” Miller said to Beating the Odds with Beeb. “It’s just based on whether Dillian Whyte doesn’t want the fight. They’re [Matchroom Boxing and Whyte] are in the heat of negotiations still. They said to me that if they can make a deal with me, they’re going to bypass Dillian Whyte and fight me in June. Dillian Whyte might present me with the opportunity, because he wants a certain number,” Miller said.
Miller isn’t going to get the fight against Joshua unless they’ve run out of patience with Dillian Whyte during the negotiation process. Eddie Hearn wants Whyte for Joshua, because not only has Dillian earned the fight by beating some notable heavyweights, but also due to the huge interest a fight between him and AJ will bring in. Joshua vs. Whyte 2 is big money in the UK. It’s not an important fight to the rest of the world, but in the UK, it’s big news.
Whether the 315 pound Miller gets the fight with AJ will defend on if Dillian Whyte, the current first choice for Joshua’s April 13 fight, chooses not to accept the money that is offered to him. Miller says he was told by Joshua’s promoters that they’ll make a deal with him rather than Whyte if they can agree on things. Miller says the offer isn’t a bad one.
“It wasn’t a bad offer,” Miller said about his financial offer from Matchroom for a fight against Joshua. “My main thing is getting in the ring and knocking his backside out, and showing I’m the man. I’m going to give them a hard time on certain things, but my ultimate goal is being the champion. I’m thinking about legacy first, and the money will come.”
Miller isn’t in the position to ask for a ton of money for a fight against Joshua. He lacks the popularity in the UK, and worldwide, because he’s not beaten any of the talented heavyweights. Miller’s best wins were against 42-year-old Tomasz Adamek, Mariusz Wach, Gerald Washington, Johann Duhaupas and Fred Kassi. Miller didn’t look good against Duhaupas, and Washington. He was almost knocked out by Washington in their fight in July 2017. That fight showed that Miller can be hit with repeated combinations to the head. Miller’s defense will need to improve for him to have a chance of beating Joshua. Miller’s perceived lack of talent wouldn’t be an obstacle to him getting a fight with Joshua. In fact, it might help Miller get the fight, because he’s not a big threat to Joshua like Deontay Wilder.
“It’ll definitely take place in New York city,” Miller said. “Anthony Joshua is definitely the money guy in the division right now. There are a few guys that can beat him, and I’m one of the guys. I got to go where the money is at, and that’s with DAZN,” Miller said.
Miller recently turned down a fight against Kubrat Pulev in an International Boxing Federation heavyweight title eliminator to try and become a mandatory to Joshua. You have to believe that Miller wouldn’t have turned down the fight with Pulev if he wasn’t co-promoted by Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing USA. Being with Hearn enabled Miller to say no to the risky fight with Pulev, and still find himself in a good position to fight Joshua for his three titles.
