Undefeated heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua will fight American challenger Jarrell 'Big Baby' Miller in New York on June 1 in his first title bout outside Britain.
Lennox Lewis famously called the backroom shenanigans of professional boxing, "poli-tricks". In the 20 years since Britain's finest heavyweight had to split a dubious decision with his great adversary, Evander Holyfield, at Madison Square Garden, nothing has changed and the only compatriot in sight of challenging Lewis's pre-eminence, Anthony Joshua, heads to the same venue, not for any date with destiny but, as he admitted on Wednesday, a compromise defence of his titles.
Joshua is not fighting unbeaten New York giant Jarrell "Big Baby" Miller in New York on 1 June because fans are crying out for it; Miller – who is more dangerous than his nom de guerre would suggest – is the easiest available opponent to do business with given the breakdown of talks with Deontay Wilder, who owns the fourth quarter of the heavyweight championship that Joshua needs to match Lewis's achievement of becoming the undisputed champion.
Joshua had been due to defend his WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight belts at London's Wembley Stadium on April 13 against an unnamed opponent, but that had been looking unlikely for some time.
It's official. Anthony Joshua is coming to America. The long-anticipated American debut for Anthony Joshua has arrived. The current WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight champion will be fighting Jarrell Miller on June 1 at the Mecca of boxing, Madison Square Garden in New York. The event will be broadcast on DAZN USA and Sky Sports.
This is a big step in unification for the heavyweight division which is long overdue. With the conversation in the heavyweight division being dominated by Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury after their exciting heavyweight bout that ended in a draw in December in Los Angeles, it had taken some of the shine off Joshua's value with Wilder's and Fury's relevance having increased. Although there were negotiations for Joshua and Wilder to fight, it seemed like both sides were never truly close to reaching a deal.
Regardless, it's a big deal that the six foot six inch 2012 Olympic gold medalist and current owner of 75 percent of the heavyweight titles is coming to the United States to fight for the fight time out of his homeland in the UK. Joshua, the undefeated champion is going to be on full display in the center of the universe.
Not to mention, let's give Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn a lot of credit here. Although many might say they had no choice, they could have pushed for this fight to remain in the UK and they would have gotten the deal done. Instead, they're taking the risk of not only fighting out of their comfort zone but fighting in the Brooklyn native, Miller's backyard. Make no mistake, the big and athletic Miller is no pushover. Boxing fans are in for a fight.
Hearn said: "When you look at the heavyweight greats that have graced the renowned 'Mecca of Boxing', the names of Ali, Frazier, Marciano, and Tyson stand firm, and 1 June will be a moment when the world will witness AJ's turn."
Great fighters need more than big wins and pay cheques in famous venues to secure a place in boxing's pantheon. They need defining rivalries and epic performances – as Lewis knew, and proved. Joshua might get a great fight out of Miller, but he could have started making history with Wilder.
