Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller hasn’t been contacted by lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury’s co-promoters at Top Rank or Frank Warren about a fight between the two of them. There were rumors last weekend that the unbeaten Miller (23-0-1, 20 KOs) was in the running for Fury’s next fight following his second round knockout win over Tom Schwarz in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Fury, 30, needs an opponent for his next fight in October or November in New York. Thus far, the highly ranked Kubrat Pulev and Miller are the names that have been mentioned as possible options for the 6’9″ Fury to fight. Chris Mannix of Sport Illustrated says Pulev (27-1, 14 KOs) is also a possibility for Fury’s next fight.
After last Saturday’s mismatch between Fury and Schwarz, it’s important that Top Rank find a credible opponent for Fury to fight in his next fight in the fall. They can’t continue to feed Fury massively over-matched opposition if they want him to be taken seriously by American boxing fans. People want to see Fury face credible opponents, and not guys that were hand-picked like Schwarz in order to make him look good to the casual fans.
Sailita says no Fury-Miller talks have taken place
“Jarrell is one of the biggest names in the heavyweight division. With him being at the Tyson Fury fight, I understand that speculation of that match is natural, but there have not been any discussions regarding a fight with Tyson Fury,” said Miller’s promoter Dmitry Salita to skysports.com in addressing the rumors of Pulev being in talks with Fury’s management for a fight the fall. “When the time is right, with the personality of both fighters, it will be one of the biggest fights and most exciting promotions in boxing.”
Miller tested positive several times for banned substances while training for a title fight against Anthony Joshua in New York. Miller was subsequently removed from the June 1 card after the positive tests were revealed. When that suspension will be up is unclear, but it won’t be soon enough for him to face Fury. It’s possible that Miller will be out of action until early 2020, and that means he’s not an option for Fury’s next fight.
Fury would have problems with Miller’s size and power
It’s possible that Top Rank won’t let Miller anywhere near Fury until after the rematch between Fury and WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder takes place. There’s too much money at stake in that fight for Top Rank to risk putting Fury in with a quality opponent like Miller. Top Rank’s decision to put Fury in with Schwarz suggests that they don’t want to take a chance of him losing against a better fighter. As such, a fight between Fury and Miller won’t take place until after the eventual rematch between Wilder and Fury, and not before. It would be a big surprise if Fury’s management puts him in with a good fighter like Miller at the end of the year, because he’s dangerous.