BBN asked their panel of experts for their Anthony Joshua vs Jarrell Miller predictions
Anthony Joshua (22-0, 21 KOs) defends his WBA Super, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight World titles against Jarrell Miller (23-0-1, 20 KOs) at the iconic Madison Square Garden on June 1.
It'll be the 29-year-old's seventh contest as a World champion against a loudmouth American who is ranked as high as #2 with the WBA and #3 in the WBO, who has talked his way into this title shot and is expected to bring the fight to the champion, click here for a complete tutorial about betting on boxing.
Fight fans are divided in opinion on this matchup, some saying it's underwhelming, others saying he's the best of the bunch available to AJ, so BBN asked their panel of experts for their ‘AJ’ vs 'Big Baby' predictions:
Steve Goodwin
Promoter
"Total mismatch. Miller has only one thing going for him and that’s size. Joshua will hit him often and hit him hard and stop him mid rounds.
I know the politics of boxing are difficult and am not apportioning blame but here we have a fight that will be hyped up and end up being a major disappointment for the casuals. These types of fights, if continued, will see Joshua’s popularity fall."
Niall Doran
Founder of Boxing News & Views
"Straight forward fight for AJ. Too big, too strong, too fast and too good. Joshua inside seven."
Robbie Davies Jr
British & Commonwealth super-lightweight champion
"Not seen much of Miller, but what I have seen, he will try to impose himself early on Joshua. I think he will move into too many of Joshua's long, straight shots.
I'm expecting Joshua to stop Miller between 4-6 rounds."
Miles Shinkwin
English light-heavyweight champion
"I have no problem with the fight at all. Joshua wants to show off in America and he’s going to get paid a load of money to do it. I don’t see this as the three-round job many are predicting. I see Josh controlling it but still going the 12-round distance."
Richard Riakporhe
WBA Inter-Continental cruiserweight champion
"Anthony Joshua has too much power and experience for Miller to be a real challenge for him, so I believe the furthest this fight will go is seven-rounds, inevitably improving Joshua’s record."
Danny Barrett
Unbeaten welterweight
"I cant see AJ losing until he finally fights Fury or Wilder, so I think AJ will beat Miller and probaly get him out of there, too. I've not been impressed with what I've seen of Miller so far."
Joe Neale
Boxing Matchmaker / PR
"Miller's feet are too slow and his punch power, I think, is overrated. I see it being competitive, but Joshua winning a fairly comfortable points decision, Miller is tough and don’t expect him to be knocked down."
Tey Lynn-Jones
Southern Area middleweight champion
"Great to see Joshua finally breaking America, obviously Fury or Wilder are out of the question due to their rematch, so this is the next best option to smash an American in America lol!
I think it should be an easy win for Joshua and should KO him before the later rounds where Miller, being so unfit, probably just not come the final rounds, but it’s great if Wilder wins the rematch, building him in America, but if Fury wins that fight then has to be in England."
Matt Marsh
Former British super-bantamweight champion
"I think Joshua is taking this fight to tick over while waiting for a big fight with Deontay Wilder or Dillian Whyte.
I think Joshua will win against Jarrell Miller, maybe on points just to get the rounds under his belt."
Jamie Speight
Three-time Southern Area champion
"I’m in two minds here, either AJ will have to get through an early onslaught from a confident Miller, who I think will come out firing on all cylinders, but the better footwork, boxing brain and overall better style will get AJ through it and I think he will dispatch of Miller between 5-8 rounds; or the previous comment from Miller back in June/July last year regarding AJ’s mum will fuel the fire and he will stand and trade blows early doors and we will see the fight finished before the start of the 6th session."
Tim Rickson
Sports Agent
"The only person AJ has gone the distance with so far in his career is Joseph Parker, who was on his toes for the entire fight. AJ struggled to pin him down because of his fast feet and, arguably, some questionable officiating didn't help either. Everyone else has fallen and that's because Joshua has been able to land on them. His speed and accuracy puts people down, not iced out cold though because it takes AJ to inflict a few knockdowns first, but his ability to kill off a fight has improved over time.
Miller offers very little movement and AJ's straight shots will be bouncing off his head all night. I don't know how tough he is, but no one can take clean shots for too long.
I assume that he will take the fight to AJ to try to engage him in a firefight where his short, strong shots will take effect on the inside. I'm sure the build up to the event will be filled with attempts from Miller to rile Joshua, so I hope the champion remains a consummate professional when that bell goes and he keeps it long until he finds his range and target, and can just chip away landing those clean one-two's and take him out as soon as he shows signs of going.
If that's how it plays out, then I predict Joshua to win in the first six rounds."
Erol Ceylon
Promoter
"Miller is a massive opponent for Joshua. If he don’t make much footwork he will get problems. I don’t think that Joshua can knock out Miller. This will be a UD for Joshua."
Daniel Smith
BBN Writer
"'Baby' Miller is too much of a vast target for Joshua to miss.
Without any disrespect, thus far, the big New Yorker has not graced the squared circle with a proficiency or boxing calibre that is comparable to Anthony Joshua's skill set.
We all know AJ can box and bang; combined with his physical conditioning, the fight should be done and dusted before the final bell; earning AJ the stoppage, a good few quid and a break into the US scene.
It'll be business as usual and happy days for Eddie Hearn."
Steve Wood
VIP Promotions
"Joshua simply too good for him and expect a stoppage around round 5."
Aqib Tahlat
BBN Writer
"It should be an easy win for Anthony Joshua and, in my opinion, he stops him late.
Jarrell Miller doesn’t carry that knockout power, he relies on putting pressure on his opponents and fights on the inside.
The downfall for him is that if he fights on the inside against AJ he could be on a receiving end of some vicious uppercuts so he will have to be more calculated.
It will be Joshua’s first pro fight in America so that could play in his mind, however he knows how to perform under pressure.
Joshua to stop him around 7th-9th round."
Mick Gordon
Ring Announcer
"Jarrell Miller is a ruthless, formidable opponent, he does have a punch on him and he has home advantage. But having deservedly garnered such a haul of world heavyweight titles, on paper this still looks like a fight that AJ should win. A lot depends therefore on whether or not AJ will be phased by the occasion, this being his first fight on foreign soil.
I think he will relish and rise to occasion. Its an AJ win for me by knockout midway into the bout."
Chris Glover
Boxing Writer
"Despite being New York based, there won’t be any favouritism towards Miller. This fight is a fight designed to help Joshua get used to a mover, and to make him look good.
The opening rounds may be cagey, but the minute Miller’s feet slow down on the outside, it’s Joshua’s fight too lose.
I can see Joshua breaking Miller down in the mid rounds, and closing the show around 7, 8 or 9."
Joseph Siza
BBN Writer
"I think this will be an exciting fight while it lasts – Miller will attempt to impose his size and walk Joshua down, but in doing so will walk onto a lot of shots. It will be interesting to see how his chin holds up – I believe he is a tough guy who can hold a shot, but you don’t want to be taking too many off AJ.
I believe Miller could pose AJ some problems with the size, but ultimately I see Miller eventually crumbling to AJ’s power, with the Watford man securing a stoppage mid to late rounds."
Sergio Michel
American guitarist songwriter
"In light of the success Wilder vs Fury had, this fight seems quite deflated for marquee value. Eddie Hearn may have chosen the biggest stage in the world for boxing, MSG as his locale to respond to Wilder vs Fury; but even the greatest arena in the world won't help boost Joshua's image, which is quite damaged at this point. Joshua is probably favored by most to win a fight where he gets hurt/dropped and mangled; winning by one big punch."
Betting Odds
Anthony Joshua points: 5/2 William Hill
Anthony Joshua KO: 2/5 Bet Victor
Jarrell Miller points: 5/1 Betway
Jarrell Miller KO: 20/1 Bet Victor
Draw: 40/1 Paddy Power