By Rich Mancuso/ Sports Editor
They talk about Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder in their quest to unify the heavyweight championship titles and it appears that mega fight is getting close to be a reality. And Thursday afternoon in New York City, Eddie Hearn, promoter of Joshua. was taken back about a meeting with those involved in the Wilder camp that cancelled a meeting.
So that fight remains in the balance but in boxing, as we are aware, Joshua and Wilder will eventually settle on a mutual agreement and the heavyweight division which has always been considered the face of boxing will once again have a unified champion.
Hearn was holding court at the final press conference for a mega card of boxing this Saturday evening at the barclays Center in Brooklyn. HBO and Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing USA will televise the 12-round WBA World title eliminator between Brooklyn boxing ambassador Daniel Jacobs and Polish contender Macie Sulecki, both undefeated and of course implications to get a shot at unified champion Gennady Golovkin.
And for heavyweight Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller who opens the HBO World Championship telecast, there are also implications, and when you mention Joshua and Wilder that means a win could get this unappreciated fighter what he deserves.
“There has been a lot of talk about my next fight but i’m not worried about that,” Miller said. Of course, he wins Saturday night than the 20-0-1, 18K0’s that got him this WBA heavyweight World Title Eliminator, will eventually get him a shot at either Joshua or Wilder.
First it’s taking on Johann Duhaupas, 37-4, 0, 24 KO’s of Abbeville France, a former world title holder. Miller, who has a baby face, and resembles that old school heavyweight, knows this will not be an easy task but good conditioning, training has that confident look and there is no denying this hometown favorite from Brooklyn will get that deserved respect.
It could take an early knockout, or getting those convincing rounds of boxing to gather that respect. But for any fighter in this situation there is that incentive and knowledge of being aware what could be next.
Miller is low key, in other words no social media explosion or ego about him. He has been going about his business and is a day away from what is amounting now to be that significant fight of his career.
“Rather they get it out of the way,” he says when asked about Joshua and Wilder. “Keep it moving I have a job in front of me.” You get the opinion that Jarrell Miller has no preference and just seeks that opportunity to face the eventual winner and no being outspoken like the heavyweights he admired.
We are talking here about Muhammad Ali, Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson. Jarrell Miller does not want to be compared though he does go the body. He just wants the respect and intends to show that Saturday night at Barclays Center.
And Miller says when asked about being a top three heavyweight,”Only people that i feel deserve to be in front of me are those guys that have the belts. Like I said continue doing what I have to do to get the job done.”
We do know if Jarrell Miller gets the job done, that respect for this “Big Baby” will come. So will that opportunity for an eventual shot at the heavyweight title ,and if that happens he will be more than a “Big Baby.”
Yes boxing is all about respect and one more win will officially take Jarrell Miller off the unknown list of elite fighters in the heavyweight division.
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