JARRELL MILLER has been given the green light to return to the ring after a failed drugs test led to Andy Ruiz Jr replacing him against Anthony Joshua.
‘Big Baby’, 31, is set to make his first ring appearance since 2018 on July 9 in his Top Rank debut in Las Vegas.
Jarrell Miller has been given the green light to return to boxing and will fight in Las Vegas on July 9Credit: AP:Associated Press
And the undefeated Brooklyn-born heavyweight boxer (23-0-1, 20 KOs) is likely to face Jerry Forest after being approved for a license by Nevada commission.
Former kickboxer Miller got his shot at champ AJ last summer after smashing past Tomasz Adamek and Bogdan Dinu.
But he missed out on his big night at Madison Square Garden and a £4million payday against the Brit after testing positive for banned substances GW501516, EPO and HGH.
The New York State Athletic Commission rejected his application for a boxing licence in the States with Ruiz Jr taking his place.
The Mexican went on to shock the world by winning the heavyweight titles, while the World Boxing Association handed the 6’4″ Miller a six-month suspension and took him out of their top 15 rankings.
He blamed the test failures on a stem cell shot he received to deal with lingering elbow issues.
Big Baby missed out on a £4m payday against Anthony Joshua after a failed drugs test a year ago and was replaced by Andy Ruiz JrCredit: Getty Images – Getty
During his absence he has signed up with Bob Arum’s Top Rank, and despite his comeback coming behind-closed-doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, the fighter cannot wait to get back between the ropes.
He said: “It’s been good working with Bob [Arum], and figuring out what’s the best road to take, and I can’t wait.
“There are a lot of different things and a lot of different aspects. The main thing is sitting down with the team and figuring out what’s the best route to take.
“Then it’s once we come up with a game plan, it’s execute it strongly and non-stop.
“I don’t care who it is and where it’s at, I just want to knock somebody’s head off, and I want to prove to the fans that Big Baby’s mind is 100 per cent right.”
Miller added: “We’re doing everything by the book. What happened the first time was a mistake, and I’m a fighter.
“I’m kind of keeping my distance [from people] because I don’t want any mistakes that will keep me out of the ring and from handling my business. I’m keeping my distance, but I’m not really in big crowds. That’s the main thing.
“I’m coming from a vengeance from hell, and everybody is going to get this work.”
Watch drug-cheat Jarrell Miller’s ‘speechless’ reaction to Joshua’s shock defeat to stand-in Ruiz
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
