Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller is back.
The former heavyweight contender has received his boxing license in Nevada and is scheduled to headline the July 9 Top Rank show at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on ESPN, BoxingScene.com is reporting. An opponent hasn’t been announced.
Miller’s career came to a abrupt halt last year, when he was scheduled to challenge for Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight titles on June 1 at Madison Square Garden only to test positive for multiple banned substances. He was subsequently suspended.
And Ruiz Jr. stepped in at the last minute to replace Miller and made history by stopping Joshua.
Miller, who hasn’t fought since he stopped Bogdan Dinu in four rounds in November 2018, signed with Top Rank in January. He’s also affiliated with Greg Cohen Promotions and Salita Promotions.
“Minor setback for a major comeback,’’ Miller (23-0-1, 20 KOs) said in a release announcing the deal. “I’m coming for everything and everyone. No one is safe. Say hello to the bad guy.
“Everyone wants to portray the superhero. We don’t live in a sunshine world. I’ll never be the superhero. In my world, the majority of the time, the villain wins.”
Bob Arum of Top Rank obviously believes in the 31-year-old from Brooklyn.
“Jarrell Miller is serious about coming back, doing things the right way and becoming heavyweight champion of the world,” Arum said. “He is one of boxing’s most unique and exciting characters, but most importantly, he can fight.”
July 9 in a Thursday. Two days earlier, Ivan Baranchyk is scheduled to face Jose Zepeda in a 10-round junior welterweight fight on ESPN.
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