American heavyweight’s next opponent has been revealed.
Jarrell Miller is one of heavyweight boxing’s–no, scratch that–professional boxing’s most controversial figures.
This is no surprise for many reasons. Brooklyn’s “Big Baby” infamously fumbled a unified heavyweight championship opportunity against Anthony Joshua in 2019 when he tested positive for a banned trio of substances in EPO, HGH, and GW501516.
To further pour vinegar into the wound (if that’s even something people say), Miller was replaced by Andy Ruiz Jr., who, of course, would pull off the shock of the century when he stopped Joshua to become unified heavyweight champion.
After serving a six-month ban, Miller was set to return in 2020 against gatekeeper Jerry Forrest, yet Miller would again fail a test for GW501516 prior to the fight. This time, he was to serve a two-year suspension.
It should also be mentioned that as a kickboxer, Miller tested positive for methylhexaneamine ahead of a 2014 fight and served a ban of nine months.
Anyway, Miller would return to boxing in 2022, beating Ariel Esteban Bracamonte by decision. He would then stop Mexican journeyman Derek Cárdenas, which was followed by a stoppage over an almost-44-year-old Lucas Browne.
Since then, Miller has suffered the first defeat of his career against Daniel Dubois, drawn with Andy Ruiz Jr. in a fight most thought Miller won, and been at the centre of a viral moment in his most recent fight when his toupée was knocked off his head in a decision win over Kingsley Ibeh.
Amongst all of this, Miller has also had fights against Derek Chisora, Fabio Wardley, and Michael Hunter fall through for various different reasons.
Now the big-talking American has a new fight scheduled against a Cuban heavyweight contender.
Jarrell Miller (27-1-2, 22 KOs) is reportedly set to fight Lenier Pero (13-0, 8 KOs) at Las Vegas’s Fontainebleau on the 25th of April, a card promoted by Matchroom Boxing.
In his last fight, Pero scored a close decision over Britain’s Jordan Thompson, the former cruiserweight world title challenger who was making his heavyweight debut.
Miller-Pero will see a meeting of two heavyweight contenders that will certainly aid the winner in moving on to much bigger things.
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