Outspoken, undefeated New York heavyweight Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller says he’s going to take Australia's Lucas “Big Daddy” Browne out quickly this Saturday, March 18th to prevent Browne from landing any late-round magic against him. Miller (25-0-1, 21 KOs) and Browne (31-3, 27 KOs) [both of whom have been penalized for using banned substances] will meet in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in a ten-round main event on a show presented by Anatoly Sulyanov of Hardcore Boxing. Retaining his gift for great quotes after four years of [largely penalized] inactivity, Miller had plenty to say about his upcoming fight, as well as about other top heavyweights and on his own personal growth through the many challenges he faced during his down time.
Q: Are you the same boxer as four years ago?
A: Honestly, I don’t 100% know the answer to that. This is the first game opponent I have fought (in the last four years). I still talk shit and back it up, but am I the same fighter? No. I don’t think so. I think every year, a person evolves. You have to become a little different and a little better.
Q: What did you learn during the four years away?
A: I think mentally I have learned how to let certain things go. I’ve learned how to read people differently; I have a better understanding with myself spiritually in a way. I’ve gone through other struggles away from boxing, outside the ring. Dealing with a divorce, not seeing my kids, so the hunger is still there (to fight). I just need to be realistic with myself, know when to criticize myself and know what I need to work on. Being a better human being of course, but understanding what my strengths are what my weaknesses are. This fight is going to show me what I need to work on, but at the same time I’m going in for the kill regardless.
They say you can never be a man if you’ve never gone through adversity in your life and I’ve always gone through so much outside of boxing. (The failed drug tests) That’s probably the first issue I’ve gone through in boxing. It taught me a lot about the people I had in my corner and the people I really thought had my back. I had to really stand on my feet firm and really believe in myself and have faith in God that I could come through anything. I’ve got a great team now, including my long-time promoter Greg Cohen who is here with me, and I’m ready to get what’s mine.
On Training Camp:
A: Training was great. This was my first official training camp (since returning). I didn’t have everything I wanted in this camp, because I was kind of getting a rhythm and organizing things. I’ve been out of the game for a while. By next camp, I will know how I like things again.
On Lucas Browne:
A: He’s a big guy. He’s durable for a certain number of rounds and has a good overhand right. But technically and fundamentally, he’s nowhere near me. I know I’m stronger. I know I’m faster. I‘m younger. I have an amazing jab. My IQ in boxing is phenomenal. Everything he does, I do a million times better. But he’s game. That’s all that matters in the fight game. One punch in the heavyweight division anything can happen, so I did not sleep on him.
Q: How do you see this fight unfolding?
A: I’m thinking it will go four rounds or less. I’m not trying to play with him and I’m not going to give him an opportunity to land that right hand. He fought Junior Fa and Junior didn’t realize what he walked into. I see him as a slow starter who gets beat up a lot and then in seven or eight rounds, he lands a right hand that gets guys out of there. My goal is to not let it go 10 rounds. I got head movement and a good, stiff jab. Once I get him hurt, I will go in there and send him home. I’m definitely going to knock him out in the early rounds of the fight. It could be a combination or just one punch, but I know I’m going to stop him.
On His Continued Weight Loss:
A: For my last fight, I came in at 340. I’m down to 325. I look a lot leaner than 325, but I’ve been relearning my body over again. I’m a couple years older now and I’m relearning how to eat and diet. I feel amazing. I never was a drinker, and I don’t smoke at all, so I’m just learning what to put in my body now that I’m a little older. I’ve learned how to eat clean for myself.
On former champion Anthony Joshua not being who people thought he was:
A: I’m good at reading people. I said that Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing did a great job of marketing him and selling him this whole BS story of who he was. But I can read people. I knew he was full of sh*t and after I pushed him, he was never the same. Andy (Ruiz) kind of took advantage of that and he did what he did. Now it’s my turn to get what I’ve lost.
On heavyweight prospect Jared Anderson calling himself ‘The Real Big Baby’:
A: I think it’s cute, but anybody that has to call themself “The Real Big Baby,” that should tell all they got to say. That’s corny as hell. ‘I’m the real Anthony Joshua!’ You know what I mean? Trying to be the person you’re not. He did that on purpose too. He’s younger and I got way more experience. Everybody knows I’m the original Big Baby and there’s only one Big Baby. He (Anderson) ain’t fighting nobody. They want to fight cruiserweights. He’s calling out Andrew Tabiti. That guy is not even a real heavyweight. That tells you the kind of enthusiasm behind this guy and the belief they have in him.
Q: So are you looking to fight Anderson soon?
A: Not yet. Listen, if they… I would love to fight him. I’ll fight him right now. I’ll fight him tomorrow if they really want to talk that game, but I know him, and his team don’t want none of that smoke at all. I know his manager James Prince will tell him to stay away from ‘The One and Only Big Baby.’ I think the time for that will come, but if they want it, I’ll definitely give them smoke.
On Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk, who will likely fight to unify the world heavyweight championship:
A: A lot of people are saying that Tyson is going to beat him up and it’s going to be a one-way fight. First of all, this is boxing. What I can tell you is this. I’m a big fan of Tyson. Me and him talk our regular boxing BS, but if I take my biased opinion out of it, anybody that knows how to box gives Tyson a problem and Usyk is a real technical boxer. So, I don’t see it being a one-sided fight. I think it will be a very technical fight. I don’t think it will be super exciting, but I don’t think it will be a one-sided fight. I do tilt more toward Tyson because he's a bigger guy and he can be aggressive at times, but I think it will be a lot closer than what people are making it seem.
On Sparring with Tyson Fury:
A: Sparring with Tyson taught me I knew where I still stand in this game. Tyson said he dropped me seven times, that’s BS. More like the other way around. I clocked him with some sh*t.
Q: What are your goals for the future:
A: My main thing right now is I want to punch Anthony Joshua in the face. That fight needs to still happen. I’m hoping he gets past Jermaine (Franklin). Hopefully we can get it on after this fight. I want to retire him. I want to break his will and his heart, his brain, his eye socket. And I still want to break his nose. That would definitely be the fight I want. But, if not, Daniel Dubois and his team have expressed interest in fighting. I would definitely fight him right after this for the WBA Regular title. Those are the only two fights I really care about, Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua. I am destined to be heavyweight champ of the world, hands down. Period. I just have to stay focused, stay relaxed and be my rambunctious, loud, dynamic self. I got to be me.
On Being in Dubai:
A: I’m loving Dubai. I’ve been a big believer in the Muslim religion for many years. My trainer when I was a kid in the amateurs, he always wanted me to convert and learn more about the culture. Being out here, I’ve been at peace. I see a lot of my friends have moved out here. Just being in a relaxed state of mind and able to focus.
Q: Lastly, what are your thoughts about [former champion] Deontay Wilder?
A: Wilder is not the same person, mentally. He still has that wonderful, powerful right hand, but there are definitely some kinks in his armor I see. When you believe all the things people around you are telling you and then someone teaches you they’re full of shit, it’s hard for you to believe it. He was talking about how he’s Mike Tyson and a god and a killer and now he sees he’s not that. It was time for him to come off his high horse. Reality teaches you who men are when they are tested. Deontay still has a right hand that could put you to sleep though.
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The pay-per-view broadcast will also feature a ten-round super featherweight bout between Dublin’s Jono “King Kong” Carroll (23-2-1, 7 KOs) and former Colombian Olympian Miguel “The Scorpion” Marriaga (30-6, 26 KOs).
Also broadcast that night will be a ten-round cruiserweight battle between fast-tracking former amateur star Soslan “Cobra” Asbarov (3-0, 1 KO) of Chapaevo and once-beaten American Brandon Glanton (17-1, 14 KOs).
