Tag: Jerry Forrest

Jared Anderson pounds, stops overmatched Jerry Forrest in second round

Jared Anderson pounded and then stopped overmatched Jerry Forrest in the second round Saturday in New York.

Jared Anderson never gave Jerry Forrest a chance.

Anderson battered his overmatched opponent from the opening bell until finally stopping him at 1:34 of the second round of a scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout on the Teofimo Lopez-Sandor Martin card Saturday in New York.

Anderson (13-0, 13 KOs) landed a few dozen punishing blows in the opening round, during which he almost stopped Forrest (26-6-2, 20 KOs). The concerned ring doctor examined Forrest after the round before allowing him to continue.

In Round 2 Anderson picked up where he left off, pounding Forrest relentlessly until finally hurting him with a hard right that made him slump in a corner.

That prompted referee David Fields to stop the fight.

Anderson, 23, is ranked No. 15 by the WBC, but he’s just getting started.

In other preliminary fights, unior middleweight prospect Xander Zayas (15-0, 10 KOs) of Puerto Rico defeated Alexis Salazar (24-5, 9 KOs) by a unanimous decision in an eight-round bout.

The scores were 80-72, 79-73 and 79-73.

And 2020 U.S. Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis (7-0, 5 KOs) of Norfolk, Virginia, defeated veteran Juan Carlos Burgos (35-7-3, 21 KOs) of Mexico by a shutout decision — 80-70 on all three cards — in an eight-round lightweight bout.

Jared Anderson pounds, stops overmatched Jerry Forrest in second round

Jared Anderson pounded and then stopped overmatched Jerry Forrest in the second round Saturday in New York.

Jared Anderson never gave Jerry Forrest a chance.

Anderson battered his overmatched opponent from the opening bell until finally stopping him at 1:34 of the second round of a scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout on the Teofimo Lopez-Sandor Martin card Saturday in New York.

Anderson (13-0, 13 KOs) landed a few dozen punishing blows in the opening round, during which he almost stopped Forrest (26-6-2, 20 KOs). The concerned ring doctor examined Forrest after the round before allowing him to continue.

In Round 2 Anderson picked up where he left off, pounding Forrest relentlessly until finally hurting him with a hard right that made him slump in a corner.

That prompted referee David Fields to stop the fight.

Anderson, 23, is ranked No. 15 by the WBC, but he’s just getting started.

In other preliminary fights, unior middleweight prospect Xander Zayas (15-0, 10 KOs) of Puerto Rico defeated Alexis Salazar (24-5, 9 KOs) by a unanimous decision in an eight-round bout.

The scores were 80-72, 79-73 and 79-73.

And 2020 U.S. Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis (7-0, 5 KOs) of Norfolk, Virginia, defeated veteran Juan Carlos Burgos (35-7-3, 21 KOs) of Mexico by a shutout decision — 80-70 on all three cards — in an eight-round lightweight bout.

Jerry Forrest rallies to earn draw with Zhilei Zhang

Jerry Forrest rallied from three early knockdowns to earn a draw with heavyweight contender Zhilei Zhang.

Jerry Forrest recovered from three early knockdowns to earn a majority draw with heavyweight contender Zhilei Zhang in a 10-round bout on the Canelo Alvarez-Avni Yildirim card Saturday in Miami.

Zhang (22-0-1, 17 KOs) put Forrest (26-4-1, 20 KOs) down in each of the first three rounds, which seemed to portend a knockout for the contender from China.

However, Forrest survived and rallied from the fourth round on as Zhang grew tired to pull even in the end.

Zhang, a 2012 Olympian, was warned repeatedly for holding and leaning on the shorter Forrest and was finally docked a point in Round 9. That cost his a victory.

One judge scored it 95-93 for Forrest but the other two had it 93-93, making it a draw.

Jerry Forrest rallies to earn draw with Zhilei Zhang

Jerry Forrest rallied from three early knockdowns to earn a draw with heavyweight contender Zhilei Zhang.

Jerry Forrest recovered from three early knockdowns to earn a majority draw with heavyweight contender Zhilei Zhang in a 10-round bout on the Canelo Alvarez-Avni Yildirim card Saturday in Miami.

Zhang (22-0-1, 17 KOs) put Forrest (26-4-1, 20 KOs) down in each of the first three rounds, which seemed to portend a knockout for the contender from China.

However, Forrest survived and rallied from the fourth round on as Zhang grew tired to pull even in the end.

Zhang, a 2012 Olympian, was warned repeatedly for holding and leaning on the shorter Forrest and was finally docked a point in Round 9. That cost his a victory.

One judge scored it 95-93 for Forrest but the other two had it 93-93, making it a draw.

Nevada officials extend Jarrell Miller’s suspension indefinitely

Nevada officials have extend Jarrell Miller’s temporary suspension indefinitely for failing a drug test before a scheduled fight in July.

Jarrell Miller won’t be fighting in Nevada for a while.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to extend the heavyweight contender’s temporary suspension indefinitely for allegedly failing a drug test before a scheduled fight in July, BoxingScene.com reported.

Miller was scheduled to face Jerry Forrest on July 9 in the bubble at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, his first fight since a previous PED-related hiatus from boxing. However, he reportedly tested positive for GW1516. The substance, also known as cardarine and endurobol,  enhances aerobic power and endurance.

Miller insisted shortly after news broke of his positive test that he has never “willingly” taken a performance-enhancing drug.

GW1516 was one of three substances allegedly found in Miller’s system before his scheduled fight with Anthony Joshua last year in New York. He was replaced by Andy Ruiz Jr. as the opponent for Joshua, who was knocked out.

Miller was not yet licensed to fight in New York at the time he failed the test. Thus, New York officials didn’t have the power to suspend him. Miller had submitted all required paperwork Nevada authorities, which allowed them to take action against him.

They immediately issued a temporary suspension. On Wednesday, they extended it at their monthly commission meeting.

The 32-year-old from Brooklyn presumably would have to reapply for a license at some point if he hopes to fight in Nevada again. It’s not clear when he would be eligible to do so. Some have called for a lifetime ban.

Bob Bennett, the executive director of the NSAC, didn’t immediately return a phone call from Boxing Junkie.

Miller was fortunate to receive a second chance when he signed with Top Rank, which provided a nice platform on which to make his return. The July 9 card – with Carlos Takam replacing Miller – was televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.

A few days after the card, Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank, said, “Jarrell Miller will never fight on a Top Rank card.”

Miller (23-0-1, 20 KOs) also tested positive for a banned substance when he was a kickboxer in 2014.

The 31-year-old from Brooklyn hasn’t fought since November 2018, when he stopped Bogdan Dinu.

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Bob Arum: ‘Jarrell Miller will never fight on a Top Rank card’

Promoter Bob Arum has cut ties to heavyweight Jarrell Miller after Miller tested positive for PEDs.

Promoter Bob Arum gave Jarrell Miller a second chance by signing the troubled heavyweight earlier this year and arranging his comeback. Miller won’t get a third chance, at least not from Arum.

Arum told talkSPORT Fight Night that he’s releasing Miller from his contract after the fighter failed a drug test ahead of his scheduled bout with Jerry Forrest on July 9.

Miller had also tested positive for multiple PEDs before he was scheduled to challenge for Anthony Joshua’s titles on Dec. 7 in New York, which cost him the opportunity. Andy Ruiz Jr. took his place and stopped Joshua.

“How stupid can you be? That was my reaction,” Arum said. “I mean when we signed the fight, after he had had tested positive before the fight with Anthony Joshua, he told me it was his people that did it, he would be very careful, he would have a special nutritionist.

“And, boom, the same thing happened and he tested dirty. I think, again, that’s a credit to boxing. Because once we scheduled him to fight, the Nevada Commission immediately had VADA test him.

“The first test uncovered performance-enhancing drugs. It’s very, very hard to deal with stupidity.”

Miller avoided being suspended after his earlier failed tests because he had yet to be licensed by New York. “Big Baby” probably will face punishment this time. The NSAC reportedly will treat Miller as a licensed fighter because he submitted all pertinent paperwork.

“I look at it this way: If a fighter takes performance-enhancing drugs getting ready to participate in a fight, then I look at it as attempted murder,” Arum said. “If he somehow evaded the test, he would go in the ring seriously compromising his opponent and I believe that would be attempted murder.

“What happened in New York, he didn’t have a license. He tested dirty and the fight was off. When we went to the Nevada Commission to schedule him for a fight, we told the Nevada Commission, ‘Look, if he had been licensed in New York, they would’ve given him a one-year suspension. So let’s do it ourselves, keep him out for the year.’

“… Now it’s up to the [Nevad] commission to determine the penalty. And I believe that it’ll either be multi-year or life. If he isn’t banned for life, then I believe it’ll be a multi-year suspension. And if you’re asking me if I’d continue my contract with him, the answer is, ‘Not on your life.’

“Jarrell Miller will never fight on a Top Rank card.”

Heavyweights Carlos Takam and Jerry Forrest to be featured Tuesday evening

Heavyweight Carlos Takam is scheduled to face Jerry Forrest in the 10-round main event Thursday in the MGM Grand bubble in Las Vegas.

The heavyweights will be featured for the first time in the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN summer series Thursday.

Longtime contender Carlos Takam of Cameroon is scheduled to face Jerry Forrest of Newport News, Virginia in the 10-round main event in the tightly controlled MGM Grand bubble in Las Vegas.

Forrest (26-3, 20 KOs) was originally scheduled to face Jarrell Miller in “Big Baby’s” comeback fight but Miller tested positive for a banned substance and was pulled from the card.

Takam (38-5-1, 28 KOs) has faced many big-name heavyweights but the 39-year-old, who built his career in France but now lives in Las Vegas, has generally come up short in his biggest fights. He has lost to Alexander Povetkin, Joseph Parker, Anthony Joshua (in a title fight) and Derek Chisora since 2014.

Heavyweights Carlos Takam (left) and Jerry Forrest will fight in the main event Thursday on ESPN. Mikey Williams / Top Rank

He hasn’t been in a notable fight since the Chisora bout, which was in July 2018. He has beaten three journeymen since then.

If nothing else, Takam seems to have been serious about his training. He weighed in Monday at 245.7, his lightest weight since the Joshua fight in October 2017. Forrest weighed 225.6.

Forrest (26-3, 20 KOs) is far removed from his biggest fights, losses to Gerald Washington and Michael Hunter in 2013 and 2014.

He won 18 consecutive fights against journeymen after the Hunter loss before losing a split decision to unbeaten Jermaine Franklin in July of last year. He bounced back to win his most recent fight, a second-round knockout of Martez Williamson in September.

Other fighters on the card weighed in as follows:

  • Carlos Castro (25-0, 10 KOs) 123.8 vs. Cesar Juarez (25-8, 19 KOs) 124.4, 10 rounds
  • Joshafat Ortiz (7-0, 4 KOs) 130.8 vs. Joshua Orta (6-0, 2 KOs) 132.7, six rounds
  • Fred Wilson Jr. (6-0-2, 2 KOs) 159 vs. Donte Stubbs (6-1, 2 KOs) 159.5, six rounds
  • Peter Cortez (2-1, 1 KO) 147.5 vs. Corey Champion (1-3, 1 KO) 147.6, four rounds

 

Jarrell Miller denies ‘willingly’ taking banned substance

Jarrell Miller insists he has never “willingly” taken a performance-enhancing drug even though he reportedly failed another test.

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on SportingNews.com.

***

Jarrell Miller insists he has never “willingly” taken a performance-enhancing drug even though he reportedly failed another test.

The unbeaten heavyweight was scheduled to fight Jerry Forrest on July 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas but was removed from the card amid reports he tested positive for a banned substance.

Miller admitted he “messed up” after missing out on facing Anthony Joshua in June of last year after testing positive for three banned drugs.

Speaking to Fight Network, the Brooklyn native revealed he and his team are investigating the current situation.

“This is something that was ingested,” Miller said. “We don’t know if it was contaminated, but we’re investigating as of right now. Me and my team are just working due diligently to get the facts 100 percent straight.”

Asked toward the end of the YouTube interview whether he had ever knowingly taken performance-enhancing drugs, Miller replied: “No, I have never ever willingly taken a steroid for performance-enhancement purposes. No.

“Did I take something for healing properties, for injury? Yes I have. Before a fight to win a fight and during a training camp? No, I have never done that.”

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman revealed that Miller had been “expelled” before the recent positive test for failing to join the governing body’s drug testing program.

He told Sky Sports: “Miller specifically, he was expelled from the WBC, because he failed to enroll in the clean boxing program. Not once, but twice.”

Sulaiman refused to rule out the possibility of Miller fighting for a WBC title in the future, however, saying: “I don’t speculate. I don’t like to … what if.

“What I can say is that he’s been out of the WBC picture for three years, because we did not consider him to be eligible for rankings, because he did not enroll in the clean boxing program.

“When he was first ranked. We sent them the documents. He had three months to fill three pieces of paper, and he failed to do so. Then somehow they claimed they didn’t have the papers, so we rang him again and sent them the papers.

“… He didn’t submit twice, so he has been expelled from the WBC for three years.”

Boxing world reacts to Jarrell Miller’s failed drug test

Many in the boxing world are angry over heavyweight Jarrell Miller’s latest failed drug test.

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.”

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.

 

 

 

 

 

Lou DiBella believes Jarrell Miller deserves stiff punishment

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

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.”