Controversial American heavyweight Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller once played a pivotal if unwitting role in the downfall of Anthony Joshua, and now he’s a key part of the plot as another British star Daniel Dubois prepares to return to the ring.
Miller of course was due to challenge for Joshua’s world titles at Madison Square Garden in June 2019, before failing multiple drug tests in the build-up to the fight. That led to late stand-in Andy Ruiz Jr stunning the world by stopping AJ.
Miller is banned from fighting right now due to a further failed drugs test, but has been in Bucharest helping Dinu (20-2) prepare for his June 5 clash with Dubois in Telford (live on BT Sport).
‘Big Baby’ has Dubois style
The 34-year-old Dinu, himself beaten by Miller back in 2018, said: “Jarrell has a great style and I needed him for this fight. The preparation has been one of the best I have had. It has been a great training camp with good sparring, good coaches and I’m healthy.
“It has been good having Jarrell Miller in camp. He puts good pressure on, is heavy handed and is a strong guy. That is what I need for big fights like this.
“He is a nice guy, a funny guy and we train together. After every spar he gives me advice on what he believes will work in the fight
“I think it is a big difference between Dubois and Jarrell. Jarrell has power, skills, experience.”
A different level of Romanian
Dubois (15-1) is not taking any soft options in his first fight since that devastating first professional defeat at the hands of Joe Joyce last November. At stake on Saturday week will be the WBA interim heavyweight title.
Dinu is convinced he will not go the same way as another Romanian Dubois opponent Razvan Cojanu, who fell to ‘Dynamite’ inside two rounds back in March 2019.
Dinu said: “Cojanu never had a good strategy against Daniel. I will have a better one. I will get revenge for my old amateur team-mate.”
The Telford undercard sees Tommy Fury take in his sixth professional fight, while WBO #4-ranked featherweight Archie Sharp (19-0), Belfast middleweight Caoimhin Agyarko and Stoke middleweight Nathan Heaney will also be in action.
