Anthony Joshua told Jarrell Miller to 'shut the f*** up' when they first met
15/11/2023 13:14
Anthony Joshua and Jarrell Miller developed an angry rivalry in 2018 and 2019, but never settled it in the ring.
After becoming a superstar in the UK, AJ’s next step was to attempt to conquer America – with Miller identified as the ideal opponent for his USA debut.
With promoter Eddie Hearn having just signed his lucrative deal to stage fights Stateside on streaming service DAZN, Joshua now had a new platform in the country.
When talks with Deontay Wilder fell through in mid-2018, he announced his next fight would be against Alexander Povetkin in London.
However, as a move to help grow his profile in the US, he flew out to New York to preview the bout in front of the media at DAZN’s launch press conference.
Also at this event was Hearn’s new American heavyweight signing – Miller.
Never one to hold his silence, Miller had previously called out Joshua on several occasions.
When presented with the opportunity to trash talk him to his face, he took it.
Miller interrupted AJ’s face-off with Povetkin by standing to the side and shouting at them.
Joshua refused to take this lying down.
The pair were quickly separated as they came face to face.
They then launched into a tirade of insults against one another with the Brit calling the American a ‘little b**ch’ and repeatedly telling him to ‘shut the f*** up’.
After knocking out Povetkin, AJ signed to face Miller in his US debut.
However, the American infamously failed multiple drugs tests and so Joshua faced Andy Ruiz Jr instead – the rest is history.
Four years later, the pair may now meet again as they are both set to fight on the same show on December 23 in Saudi Arabia.
Joshua will headline against Otto Wallin at the top of the mega card, which also features Wilder.
Meanwhile Miller is set to face Daniel Dubois on the undercard.
It will be worth keeping an eye on the press conferences, no doubt.
