Wardley vs Miller reportedly eyed for June 7

Fabio Wardley is gearing up for a hometown clash with Jarrell Miller this summer

Mike Coppinger reports that heavyweights Fabio Wardley and Jarrell Miler are “finalizing a deal” to meet on June 7th in Wardley’s native Ipswich.

This is more than a little perplexing. Wardley (18-0-1, 17 KO) had a guaranteed shot at secondary WBA champion Kubrat Pulev on the table, but Jake Donovan reports that negotiations with Pulev broke down. Rather than just go to a purse bid like a normal sanctioning body, the WBA instead elected to make a four-man box-off to allow Queensberry to keep the date, with Wardley vs Miller (26-1, 22 KO) on one side and Pulev against Michael Hunter on the other.

What has Miller done to earn this opportunity? Jack and squat. “Big Baby” hasn’t won a fight in two years, falling to Daniel Dubois in November 2023 before battling Andy Ruiz Jr to a draw eight months later. Miller did far better than expected against “The Destroyer” and had an argument on the cards, but he’s still 0-1-1 since beating what’s left of Lucas Browne and remains among the most prolific drug cheats in modern boxing history.

At least this fight is reasonably likely to happen. Hunter has Don King behind him and he has a, shall we say, spotty history with WBA title bouts.