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Jarrell ‘Massive Baby’ Miller vows to stop Andy Ruiz in five fights before Crawford-Madrimov fight

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by Joseph Santoliquito |

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Jarrell “Massive Baby” Miller laughs at the notion that he is undefeated as a professional. Miller (26-1-1, 22 knockouts) will fight former heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz this Saturday in a 10-round sideshow to Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

Miller had been working out here in Philadelphia with Bozy Ennis, father and trainer of Jaron “Boots” Ennis, in preparation for the fight with Ruiz (35-2, 22 KOs).

Miller was serene, cheerful and responsible, open about being his own worst enemy. Last December, Miller weighed in at 333 pounds, his career-high, almost 100 pounds heavier than 239-pound Daniel Dubois. Miller suffered his first loss, ending the fight at 2:52 of the 10th round. The Massive Baby, 34, is very aware of his history. He tested positive for drugs twice before a potential fight with Anthony Joshua, in which Andy Ruiz stepped in at the last minute and surprised Joshua, and before a scheduled fight with Jerry Forrest.

“The only person who’s beaten me is myself, and I don’t usually take fights at the last minute, which I did in the Dubois fight,” Miller said. “I ran out of gas. I’m not going to say Dubois was better than me. I’ve got something to prove. I’ll stop Andy Ruiz in five rounds, there’s no doubt about it. I’ve been training like crazy. I’ve lost a lot of weight.

“There was a time when I wasn’t in a good place. I got divorced. I was going through that. And the boxing game is grubby. This is a coming out party for me. I had time to train and prepare properly. This is the first time since 2019 that I’m in a camp. This is exactly what I needed. I needed that boost of energy. I had to have a good training camp. This is my last fight with Dmitry Salita (as his promoter). Put it in. After this, I’ll be my own promoter. I’ll keep Andy and the sky’s the limit again.”

Daniel Dubois lands punches on Jarrell Miller during their heavyweight fight at Day of Reckoning in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Interestingly, there will be two “Massive Babies” on the card. Jared Anderson will fight Martin Bakole also on the Crawford-Madrimov preliminary card.

“I wasn’t going to say anything, but that kid (Anderson) talks a lot, and don’t be surprised if Martin Bakole keeps him on the bench,” Miller said. “Do that, too.”

After the loss to Dubois, Miller was looking for a reset. He looked at a up-to-date trainer, Ennis, and Brian McIntyre, The Ring and 2023 BWAA Trainer of the Year. But with McIntyre having a busy fight schedule, Miller decided to stay in the Northeast, driving from Brooklyn to Philadelphia every day to train with Ennis.

“It’s really a win-win situation because you can’t go wrong with Bozy or BoMac,” said Miller, who just finished a drug test. “It was easier geographically. I lost a lot of weight. There’s a great culture at the gym, and I felt a social and extra push. I’ve never done drugs on purpose. I’ve failed two tests, both times for the same reason. Nobody’s ever beaten me — except me. I’m not a party animal; I don’t drink. I kill when I’m in camp. There’s no way Andy Ruiz could go the distance.”

“I think it’s fair to say I need to regain the boxing world’s trust. I was my own worst enemy. Everything that happened to me in the ring was my fault. I will never accept a last-minute fight like I did with Dubois. I see this as my last chance in boxing. It’s a matter of life and death for me. Andy won a gigantic fight and he ruined it.

“But Andy has managed to do that to some extent. It’s a matter of choice now. That’s how I feel. I’m down 30 pounds. I want to get down to about 290, and my strength is great. I feel great.”

Miller found a great imitator in Philadelphia gym fighter Joey Dawejko, a stocky, short-armed heavyweight who could imitate Ruiz, who was returning from a 23-month layoff.

“This is the best shape I’ve been in a long time, and Bozy has sharpened my defense and gotten my defense and footwork back in shape,” Miller said. “I want to tell the boxing world that Massive Baby hasn’t gone anywhere. I realize that being a man is a pain, and I’ve learned to persevere. But most importantly, I’ve learned to love myself again.

You go through things in life that make you hate. You hate everything around you and you hate the world. I kind of hated myself in the process. I came from a background where I didn’t have a pot to pee in. I’ve come this far and I still have time. This is the best time to be a lifter. I’m going to do what I do best, which is beat people up, like Andy Ruiz did on August 3rd.

Follow @JSantoliquito

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Boxing

The fight between Alexis Rocha and Raul Curiel will take place on December 14 at the Toyota Arena

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Rocha vs Curiel

In a clash of forces between two world title contenders, NABO welterweight titleholder Alexis “Lex” Rocha (25-2-0, 16 KO) will put his skills to the test against undefeated knockout and NABF welterweight titleholder Raul “El Cugar “. Curiel (15-0, 13 KO).

The 10-round main event will take place on Saturday, December 14, live from the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, and will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN.

“‘The best versus the best’ is Golden Boy’s mantra and that’s what fans will see as Rocha and Curiel take on everything that’s on the table,” said President and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “Rocha is a veteran whose goal is to win the world title, Curiel is an undefeated blue-chip prospect with huge potential. It’s really a 50/50 fight and I’m looking forward to it.”

Tickets for the Rocha vs. match Curiel will go on sale on Friday, October 11 at 10 a.m. PT and will be priced at $100, $75, $50 and $25, excluding applicable service fees. A confined number of Golden Boy VIP Experience tickets will also be available, including exclusive merchandise and fight night upgrades. Standard and VIP tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, Toyota-arena.com, Goldenboy.com or at the Toyota Arena box office from Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 16:00

“I’ve seen Raul Curiel all these years and he never once mentioned my name,” Alexis Rocha said. “After my last defeat, he suddenly became interested in fighting me. If he thinks I’ve lost a step or somehow had an simple fight, he’s in for a rude awakening. I can’t wait to make a statement and show the world what I’m capable of.”

Santa Ana, California Rep. Alexis “Lex” Rocha comes from a struggling family. The younger brother of Ronny Rios, he was the youngest fighter to win a gold medal at the Junior Olympics at the age of 14 in 2012 and caught the attention of the boxing world by becoming a six-time national champion during his amateur career. Rocha signed with Golden Boy in January 2016 and made his professional debut in March 2016, defeating Jordan Rosario at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles. Since then, he has amassed an enviable record of powerful knockouts over top contenders and plans to return to world title contention, with his last fight being a victory over undefeated Santiago Dominguez on July 19 last year.

“The fans can expect a war,” said Raul Curiel. “I’m going to prepare well to put on a great show. This will be the most essential fight of my career so far. I know Alexis is a great fighter, a good opponent and will also show up prepared. My focus is on Alexis and if I can beat him, I know it will give me a chance to fight for the world championship.

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George Kambosos moves up to 140, adds Eddie Hearn to team

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George Kambosos beats Teofimo

Former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos approached promoter Eddie Hearn asking for more massive fights.

Kambosos has signed a co-promotional deal with Eddie Hearn, under which the Greek-Australian slugger will continue his association with DiBella Entertainment Inc. and his own company, Ferocious Promotions.

The 21-3 star will move up to the super lightweight division of Matchroom Boxing’s lively division. He aims to become a two-weight world champion in early 2025, and as part of the deal, a title fight is promised as long as he continues to win.

Since his stunning victory over Teofimo Lopez, Kambosos has never shied away from competing against the best. Those three losses on his resume came to Devin Haney [twice] and Vasily Lomachenko, all at home and all for world titles.

The 31-year-old is now set to face compatriot Liam Paro after defending his IBF title against Richardson Hitchins in December in Puerto Rico.

“I am thrilled to be working with Matchroom Boxing. I am excited to have signed a three-way promotional cooperation agreement with my long-time promoter DiBella Entertainment Inc. and Ferocious Promotions,” Kambosos said.

“I made great success and history when I moved up the Matchroom shows by winning my UK elimination fight against Lee Selby. The most noteworthy and unforgettable is my victory against Teofimo at Madison Square Garden in Up-to-date York to become the 135-pound world champion.

“I am officially announcing that I will be moving up to 140 pounds and signing with Matchroom will ensure my continued success and the legacy I want to leave in the sport of boxing.”

Hearn, who adds an experienced campaigner to his stable, added: “I am delighted to welcome George to the team. George’s victory over Teofimo tore up the script and showed that George was the man for the massive time. He has proven to be a huge attraction in Australia and one of the real driving forces behind the rapid growth of boxing Down Under.

“The 140-pound division is full of massive names and massive potential fights. Adding George to the mix only elevates the level, and a possible fight with Liam Paro is a truly appetizing prospect. If Liam manages to win in a great fight against Richardson on December 7th [the fight could be on].

Lou DiBella, who has worked with Kambosos for years, said: “I’m glad I was able to make a deal with my antique buddy Eddie to work with George Kambosos Jr. and Ferocious Promotions.

“Throughout his career, George has been a fighter who has never shied away from a challenge, and now he wants to test himself against top junior welterweights.

Matchroom works with top 140-pounders, including George’s compatriot Liam Paro, and, like DiBella Entertainment, is heavily invested in Australia.

“It’s a natural partnership,” added the Up-to-date Yorker.

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Mike Tyson had absolutely no chance of knocking out Jake Paul

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Mike Tyson comeback black

One of the hottest topics surrounding Mike Tyson’s return at the age of 58 was the possibility of the boxing legend scoring a knockout of Jake Paul.

WBN has weighed in on this topic several times, questioning the validity of five-second training clips that revealed nothing about Tyson’s abilities at this overdue age. One of the most intriguing observations during the preparations was the opinion of UFC commentator Daniel Cormier.

Speaking on his show “Funky and the Champ,” Cormier reflected on Tyson’s social media videos and offered an informed opinion on the meaning of the clips.

“I understand that [he is in amazing shape at 58]and I understand what he is saying [he feels as though he can compete]– Cormier said. “And I agree that when he hits the pads with Rafael Cordeiro, it looks like there’s still something left in him.

“But then I watch Jake Paul fight Mike Perry. I saw Jake Paul get overwhelmed to the point where he started to feel uncomfortable. It looked like Mike Perry had a chance. But Jake has a reserve tank he can go to and benefit from because he’s 28 years ancient. Then he comes back and finally finishes Mike Perry.

“At the beginning of the fight, Mike Perry gets beaten up and dropped. He looks trained and unmatched. This worries me because what if it looks like a 58-year-old man fighting a 28-year-old man while Mike can’t employ the backup tank to stay and compete with this newborn kid? I think it’s a failure for Jake Paul because if you beat Mike Tyson, everyone will love him.

He added: “What if Mike knocks him out? It’s over. Everything is ready. This would be the backfire of all time. If he gets knocked out, nothing like that has ever happened in the history of the sport.”

Unfortunately for Tyson, this revenge backfired spectacularly, as the former heavyweight champion’s return was the only event that bombed. Tyson had nothing left twenty years after he had nothing left in his tank and no desire to box in his mind.

Paul parlayed this into a money-making scheme that would forever be a success for him and his company, but would be poorly received by the die-hard boxing fraternity.

Cormier’s words resonate, especially after what happened in the ring when Mike Tyson struggled to shift into first gear, warning former fighters thinking about returning after 50.

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