BBN ask their resident experts if drug cheat Jarrell Miller should be allowed to fight Tyson Fury next
After three failed drug tests ahead of his lucrative world heavyweight title showdown with Anthony Joshua, scheduled for June 1 in his home state of New York, Jarrell 'Big Baby' Miller is now being considered as an opponent for Tyson fury, as 'The Gypsy King' plans to fight next on October 5 at Madison Square Garden.
This has resulted in mixed opinions from boxing fans so BBN asked their resident boxing experts if they believe this fight should be allowed to go ahead:
Kieran Gething
Welsh Area super-lightweight champion
"I really don’t think Miller should be allowed to fight ever again.
To be caught with so many different substances inside of him in an already dubious division is so dangerous and the thought is just sickening of what could have happened to someone.
It’s not a case like Canelo’s where he could explain it away and give valid excuses; he actually admitted to everything!
The promoters need to put their foot down and say no to these cheats."
Chris Hitching
Promoter at Atlantic Promotions
"I feel if Jarrell Miller is now clean and realises that it is not acceptable to act this way then boxing is in a much better place with Jarrell a part of the industry.
That said, Tyson Fury would eat him for lunch!
But as a spectator for the heavyweight division and boxing in general, the general public would love it."
Aqib Tahlat
BBN Writer
"Fury, Arum and Warren need to sit down and think about a suitable opponent. Miller should not be getting an opportunity to fight one of the best fighters in the world after being tested positive for three drugs tests.
Miller should come back clean and earn it, and not just being given such a golden opportunity so soon because it will mean he might not learn from it.
Also, it is not giving a good example on how these drug cheats are being handled. Fighters will think they can get away with it.
I think if this fight happens next for Fury it will just show where boxing is at the minute when it comes to doping."
Tim Rickson
Sports Agent
"Frank Warren said he's considering Miller as an opponent and Tyson Fury further validated it by saying that he is a big name in boxing, especially in New York where the fight is being set up, and that he is still highly ranked with all four governing bodies and listed third in America behind the two champs Wilder and Ruiz. So, on that basis, it makes sense.
However, on a moral playing field, it's completely nonsensical and outrageous. Frank Warren told TalkSport that he doesn't approve of drug cheats but also that he doesn't police the sport. Now, I like Frank, but that's a ridiculous statement to make. You might not police the sport but it still directly affects you and your fighter. If you have the best interests at heart for your fighter then you would never put them in the ring with a prolific drug cheat, or any drug cheat for that matter.
Miller was caught doping during his kick boxing career and suspended and fined, but it didn't deter him from doing it again as a professional boxer, so what's going to make him stop now? He's a regular drug cheat and he will reoffend as long as he thinks he can get away with it. That was his first fight with VADA testing, I believe, so I'm pretty sure he's being getting away with it for years. America is slack on this, it's rife, and even Eddie Hearn said the same thing.
I'd like to pull up Frank on another statement he made about the bans being "pathetic". If the bans for drug cheats are pathetic, like you say they are, and you want to make a change for the better of the sport and your fighters, then what better way than by completely disregarding and ostracising the offending athlete and never offering them the opportunity to ever fight anyone within your stable ever again.
Don't like the pithy little bans being handed out to these dangerous doping fiends? The easy answer is for every promoter to never allow the cheat to fight on any of their shows or fighters ever again. Problem solved. You ban the boxer yourself.
Oh, my answer to the question is no. Give the opportunity to someone like Tom Schwarz, who was a young, hungry, unbeaten, world ranked fighter. My matchmaking would find someone like Adam Kownacki or Otto Walin or even Agit Kabayel."