The promotional press conference for the upcoming heavyweight clash between Fabio Wardley and Jarrell Miller erupted into an unseemly confrontation on Tuesday at Ipswich Town’s home ground.
The tense atmosphere at Portman Road reached boiling point when Miller, provocatively dressed in a Norwich shirt – the rival team to Wardley’s beloved Ipswich – approached the British heavyweight and delivered a slap across his face, despite the presence of numerous security personnel.
The controversial American, known as “Big Baby,” appeared incensed over what he claimed was an AI-generated song played during Saturday’s Joe Joyce versus Filip Hrgovic event at Manchester’s Co-Op Live. According to Miller, the song contained threatening lyrics about him, including the phrase “Big Baby Killer.”
“I was being really respectful, then he made a r***** a**** diss song ‘Big Baby Killer,'” Miller stated angrily. “Where I come from, that is a death threat. I’m running you down, I’m coming to your face, plain and simple. I’m going to f*** you up.”
Wardley, the former British and Commonwealth champion, appeared confused by the accusation, responding: “I don’t know what song you’re talking about.”
The confrontation escalated despite promoter Frank Warren’s attempts to calm the situation, with Miller reaching over security to make physical contact with Wardley. The incident forced the cancellation of a planned sit-down interview with broadcaster DAZN over concerns of further altercations.
This latest controversy adds to Miller’s already contentious reputation in boxing. The 36-year-old has a documented history of doping violations, having tested positive for GW501516, a metabolic performance enhancer, in 2019. This resulted in the New York State Athletic Commission denying him a license for his scheduled bout with Anthony Joshua at Madison Square Garden.
Further tests revealed the presence of EPO (erythropoietin) and HGH (human growth hormone) in his system. When attempting to return to the sport, Miller tested positive for GW501516 again before a scheduled bout with Jerry Forrest, resulting in a two-year ban from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Since his return to boxing in 2022, Miller has competed five times, including a defeat to Daniel Dubois in Saudi Arabia last year. That contest was sanctioned by the British Boxing Board of Control, suggesting there should be no regulatory issues with the upcoming June 7 bout against Wardley, despite questions from some quarters about whether his checkered past should preclude him from competing in the UK.
The chaotic press conference has only intensified interest in what promises to be a highly charged heavyweight encounter when the two finally meet in the ring.
