Anthony Joshua: Eddie Hearn explains how shock Jarrell Miller fight will happen in June
ANTHONY JOSHUA’s promoter Eddie Hearn has talked up a shock fight with American Jarrell Miller, revealing he could soon be the frontrunner to face ‘AJ’ next.
Joshua is next scheduled to take to the ring on April 13 at Wembley, though he currently doesn’t have an opponent for his latest outing at the home of English football.
The WBA (Super), WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight champion is keen on a unification fight with WBC titleholder Deontay Wilder, who he was in negotiations to face last year.
Hearn has made numerous attempts to book the bout since Wilder’s controversial draw with Tyson Fury last month but has yet to do so.
Team Wilder are reluctant to face Joshua and have their sights set on a rematch with Fury, who Hearn has also offered the opportunity to fight 'AJ' this spring.
Dillian Whyte is also in contention to rematch Joshua but is awaiting a bigger offer from Hearn.
For several weeks, there have been rumblings that Joshua’s next Wembley outing could be scrapped in favour of a debut fight in America against Miller, whom the Olympic gold medallist had a heated exchange with at a press conference in July.
And should Wilder, Fury or Whyte not take the fight, Hearn and Joshua will turn their attention to Miller.
“There’s radio silence from Wilder, Fury we’re talking, Dillian Whyte we’re talking,” Hearn told DAZN this past weekend at Madison Square Garden.
For me, if [Joshua] can’t get Wilder, Fury or Dillian, he must come to America and Jarrell will be at the front of that queue
“Part of me would love to see Joshua come to the States, you know Miller – he’s creeping into the top five right now, he’s making some noise in America.
“To be a global star at some point you have to fight in America and to see Joshua fill up Madison Square Garden with 21,000-22,000 people – that’s a real statement of intent for a world heavyweight champion, for a Brit especially.
“We will see what happens, I think you’ll get a decision next week.
“For me, if [Joshua] can’t get Wilder, Fury or Dillian, he must come to America and Jarrell will be at the front of that queue.
“Don’t be surprised to see Joshua in June against Big Baby Miller in this very building [Madison Square Garden].”
The undefeated Miller is confident he’s the man to hand Joshua his first loss, and Hearn believes 'Big Baby' the perfect opponent for the Olympian to face in his first fight across the pond.
“He’s not Joshua’s first choice, but I know he’s ready. He believes he can beat Joshua," Hearn added. "For a unified heavyweight champion to come to New York and beat a New Yorker in his back yard is a hell of a statement.
“Joshua’s 100 per cent focus is to fight Deontay Wilder, if he doesn’t want it we’ll look at other options.”