Jarrell Miller has big plans in the heavyweight division. | Photo: Esther Lin/Showtime
Heavyweight powerhouse Jarrell Miller seems convinced his days as a prospect are over and believes it is only a matter of time before he becomes a champion. First, he has to get past Uzbekistan’s Ahror Muralimov in a featured “ShoBox: The New Generation” bout on Friday at the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix.
Miller (14-0-1, 12 KOs) has been laying waste to regional opposition, but his lack of high-level boxing experience means little to him. He has also spent time as a professional kickboxer and has already locked horns with some of the most accomplished fighters in the world. The 6-foot-4, 280-pound Brooklyn, N.Y.-based giant twice went the distance in losses to Mirko Filipovic. Miller considers it valuable experience and always thought he would wind up boxing.
“I’ve always been interested in boxing, but it just wasn’t the right moment at the time to start boxing because I was finding success in kickboxing,” Miller told Showtime. “I now feel like I can get more output from my input from boxing, so I am focused strictly on that. Even before I started kickboxing, I always knew that I would eventually turn to boxing.”
“Cro Cop” is not the only world-class fighter with whom Miller has crossed paths. He has also sparred with current undisputed heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and looks forward to the day when he can fight him for real.
“The first time I sparred with Wladimir, I only had two professional fights under my belt,” Miller said. “The last camp I sparred with him, I was supposed to be there for four weeks, but I beat him up badly after two weeks, so they sent me home. Wladimir is a champion in and outside of the ring. His attitude is something that I admire, but I would love to knock him out.”
To move towards Klitschko, Miller must first topple Muralimov (16-1, 13 KOs), who last appeared in a 10-round decision loss to Derric Rossy in February. Muralimov enjoyed a terrific amateur career that included medals at the international level, but Miller concerns himself more with the professional in front of him.
“I don’t take the amateur experience for granted, but his amateur experience isn’t really a factor for me,” he said. “I have had some experience sparring current and former champions. I sparred with Wladimir Klitschko. I’m ready, and I am going to knock him out. The Eastern Europeans think they are the best thing since sliced bread, but I’m going to show him what it means to be a true American heavyweight.
“Muralimov has a decent chin and a good left hook,” Miller added. “His weakness is that he has never fought anyone like me. This is pure business and he’s the next cookie that will crumble, so I need to throw him away in the trash.”
With the heavyweight division in the United States still in a rut, Miller sees the matchup as a golden opportunity to look sensational in front of a national audience. He has no plans to let it slip through his fingers.
“It’s very important for me to make a statement on ShoBox,” Miller said. “An opportunity like this doesn’t come around too often. My goal is to go out there and look phenomenal. I want to look like brand new money and crush this guy. This is my time, and I have no doubt in my mind that after this fight people will know my name.”