Tag: Jarrell Miller return

Those in the boxing aren’t shocked that Jarrell Miller failed another drug test but they’re angry.

The former heavyweight contender, set to make his comeback after a PED-related hiatus from boxing, reportedly tested positive for GW1516, one of the drugs in his system when he was busted last year. The substance enhances aerobic power and endurance.

“Big Baby” was scheduled to challenge for Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight titles in June of last year at Madison Square Garden in New York but was pulled from the fight after testing positive for three banned substances over three days. He was replaced by Andy Ruiz Jr., who took Joshua’s belts.

The 31-year-old from Brooklyn received a second chance when he signed with Top Rank, which provided a nice platform on which to make his return. He was scheduled fight Jerry Forrest on July 9 in Las Vegas on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.

Carlos Takam reportedly will face Forrest.

Here are some reactions from the boxing world.

Miller’s co-promoter Dmitry Salita told Sky Sports: “I am disappointed. I was looking forward to July 9th and Jarrell’s return to the ring. This news is shocking to me as well.”

Carl Frampton, former two-division titleholder, Tweeted: “If this disgraceful human being doesn’t get banned for life, the sport that I love is an absolute joke!”

Steve Kim, ESPN.com Tweeted: “I liked Jarrell Miller, got to know him well calling his fights on CBS Sports. But he is, what he is. A cheater (one that should be given a lifetime ban). As @VictorConte once said, ‘the first thing you become when you start using PED’s — is a liar.”

If this disgraceful human being doesn't get banned for life, the sport that I love is an absolute joke! pic.twitter.com/2GT1EGhC2u

— Carl Frampton MBE (@RealCFrampton) June 28, 2020

Dan Canobbio of CompuBox Tweeted: “Jarrell Miller is Top 3 in both punches thrown per round (63) and punches landed per round (21) for heavyweights. Many wondered how a man that size could be so active. We are reminded once again how and why.”

Boxing writer Dan Rafael Tweeted: “I just can’t get over Jarrell “Big Dummy” Miller failing yet another drug test & for one of the same substances he got busted for taking last year that cost him AJ title shot no less. How stupid is he? I expect a license revocation by NSAC. Anything less is dereliction of duty.

“Big Dummy” Miller never really owned last year’s failed tests. When he came to Vegas for a Fury fight and did some interviews couldn’t keep story straight, wouldn’t admit to number of failed tests & other basics. Wouldn’t answer how long he’d used, where he got the PEDs from.”

Anthony Crolla, former lightweight titleholder, told talkSPORT: “Performance enhancing drugs in a sport like boxing are dangerous. … I think they should carry some kind of prison sentence. You know, God forbid the opponent on the receiving end takes ill.”

Errol Spence Jr. Tweeted: “He need to become a bouncer or body guard take the L out of Lover brotha.”

Lou DiBella, promoter of Jerry Forrest, told BoxingScene.com? “Do I think he should be suspended for life? Honestly, he doesn’t belong in boxing right now. And if it’s not a lifetime ban, it should be a very substantial ban. It should be something like three years. It should be something where a major message is sent. I’m not gonna say it has to be a lifetime ban.

“Part of the reason I’m not gonna say it should be a lifetime ban is because I think there’s something wrong with this kid. I know him forever and I just can’t bring myself to dislike him. I’ve always sort of liked him. But there’s some sort of psychological compulsion, where there’s something in his psyche that’s really f—ed up. It’s gotta be a very, very stringent penalty.

 

 

 

 

 

Promoter Lou DiBella believes boxing should send a “major message” in the wake of Jarrell Miller’s latest positive drug test.

Miller was set to make his comeback from a PED-related hiatus from the sport against Jerry Forrest, DiBella’s fighter, on July 9 in Las Vegas. However, he has tested positive again and the fight is off.

“Big Baby” failed three drug tests two-plus months before his scheduled title fight against Anthony Joshua in June of last year at Madison Square Garden, after which he was dropped from the card. He wasn’t suspended because he had yet to be licensed by New York. Still, his career was in shambles.

He has now failed five drug tests if you count one during his kick boxing career in 2014. He hasn’t fought since November 2018.

BoxingScene.com reported that Miller is not licensed in Nevada but officials in that state will treat him as such because he had submitted all necessary paperwork.

DiBella doesn’t believe Miller can be banned for life because he wasn’t suspended but he told BoxingScene.com that the powers that be must hand down a stiff penalty.

“The first time he tested positive, he wasn’t in boxing,” DiBella said. “The time he tested positive for everything [before the Joshua fight], no one suspended him. So, I think it’s gonna get into legalities, also. For everything that happened [before the Joshua fight], because of a technicality he wasn’t suspended. Now, that being said, do I think he should be suspended for life? Honestly, he doesn’t belong in boxing right now.

“And if it’s not a lifetime ban, it should be a very substantial ban. It should be something like three years. It should be something where a major message is sent. I’m not gonna say it has to be a lifetime ban. Part of the reason I’m not gonna say it should be a lifetime ban is because I think there’s something wrong with this kid. I know him forever and I just can’t bring myself to dislike him. I’ve always sort of liked him.

“But there’s some sort of psychological compulsion, where there’s something in his psyche that’s really f—ed up. It’s gotta be a very, very stringent penalty. I’m not necessarily gonna scream lifetime, but I can tell you, as a lawyer, the fact that he was not suspended by any state for what happened [before] the Joshua fight may make it difficult for them to issue a lifetime suspension.

“Three years for an athlete is an extraordinary amount of time. And that kind of suspension would not trouble me.”

DiBella feels the powers that be in boxing failed both his fighter and Miller by not requiring him to undergo year-round testing after his failed tests last year. He also said he’s not surprised that Miller failed another drug test.

Miller reportedly tested positive for GW1516, one of the drugs in his system when he was busted last year. The substance enhances aerobic power and endurance.

“I knew he was dirty,” DiBella told BoxingScene.com. “I just instinctively knew. But you know what? I’ve gotta be honest … I am mad at boxing. And it’s my industry, so I’m not eliminating myself when I say boxing. I’m mad at our industry because the kid is a troubled person and we didn’t do him any favors by not enforcing any normal protocols.

“When he blew that heavyweight title fight at The Garden, it was incumbent upon on some commission or the Association of Boxing Commissions or the ratings organizations or whoever to say, ‘You’re not fighting again unless you go into the 365-day-a-year testing.’ Legally, they felt they couldn’t suspend him. But they at least could’ve compelled him to be tested.

“At least that might’ve smoked this out when he didn’t have a fight scheduled. Or it might’ve kept him honest. This way, he has no reason to stay honest.”