By Alan Dawson in Hollywood
JARRELL Miller may be overlooking heavyweight rival Andy Ruiz Jr., who he boxes Saturday at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
The winner will arguably be in a good position to challenge a fighter like Jared Anderson, who also competes at the inaugural US-based Riyadh Season event, en route to a possible shot at one of the money-men in the division and a former shared rival in Anthony Joshua.
But, first, they must focus on the most immediate challenge, and that’s each other.
One would be forgiven for assuming Miller is already fighting Anderson, rather than Ruiz, considering his antics this week.
He called out his fellow American for seemingly hijacking his ‘Big Baby’ nickname when they were both working out on the Santa Monica pier Wednesday.
Los Angeles , USA: Andy Ruiz Jr and Jarrell Miller Final Press Conference ahead of their Heavyweight Contest on saturday night. 1 August 2024. Picture By Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing.
Miller then trashed Anderson once again on stage at Thursday’s press conference in front of the iconic Chinese Theater in Hollywood.
“I’m nine years older than him, I’ve been in this game way longer than he has, and I’ve fought kickboxing, MMA,” Miller told Boxing News and other reporters Thursday.
“I’ve been all across the world and never been afraid. They offered [Anderson] a fight with me but he turned it down,” Miller said, to which Anderson could be heard yelling cap [lies], in response.
“You’re not going to even look in my direction,” Miller said. “You want no smoke with me. This is even bigger than the Big Baby name.”
Anderson fights Martin Bakole on the same night as the Miller vs Ruiz bout, and it’s one in which Miller expects him to lose. “I don’t think he even gets past Bakole,” he said.
Regardless if he wins or loses, that’s who Miller wants next. “I want his ass,” he said. “Even if he lose, I still want to spank that ass.
“He’ll be Cry Baby, not Big Baby.”
The Miller vs Ruiz fight, Anderson vs Bakole bout, and wider Riyadh Season event featuring Terence Crawford against Israil Madrimov airs on DAZN PPV, PPV.com, and Prime Video.
