Exclusive: Jarrell Miller Talks Fighting On HBO, Championship Aspirations For 2018

Rising undefeated heavyweight contender Jarrell Miller is primed to have a big showing in his HBO boxing debut.

Miller, a New York native, has fought in New York for the majority of his career, but never on HBO. Miller's profile has increased in the boxing community as of late, with Miller scoring a stoppage win over former world title challenger Gerald Washington on a Showtime internet boxing broadcast. Now he gets a chance to fight on HBO for the first time in his career when he takes on Mariusz Wach on November 11.

Miller talked to Fightful about his upcoming fight and said he feels great and is "going to smack Wach’s behind.” Miller also said he's happy to represent New York whenever he fights. 

“It’s about time! Guys are getting shots in my city, but I feel good and I’m ready to give the fans what they deserve and what they need: New York power from a New York fighter on a New York show,” Miller said.

Miller's goal is to get a world title opportunity. He's highly ranked on several organization's official rankings and a win over Wach puts him one step closer to a world championship class.

“The ultimate goal is to get a world title shot early next year and I’ve been in tiptop shape for it,” Miller said.

One of those world champions, Anthony Joshua, recently needed a change in opponent after Kubrat Pulev, the IBF's heavyweight mandatory challenger, was injured before their October 28 fight. A number of heavyweights wanted to be Pulev's replacement, but Miller was not one of them. Miller said he was never contacted by Joshua's team about fighting him despite being ranked in the IBF's top 5 in its official rankings. 

Carlos Takam would eventually get the nod to fight Joshua, leaving Miller to continue prepping for Wach. Even though Miller didn't get the title fight against Joshua, Miller said he wanted to get a full training camp against someone of Joshua's caliber instead of taking a last-minute fight. 

“I’m championship caliber now. I want a full training camp for that opponent. I’m already preparing for someone who’s almost a 7-footer. When I get that Anthony Joshua fight on the table, I’ll take it. They didn’t even give me an option to take that fight. Nobody even called me to take that fight. I got one thing in my mind, one fight to take care of at the moment. We’ll handle the rest when the time comes,” Miller said.

Miller's fight against Wach will be on the HBO card headlined by Daniel Jacobs' fight against Luis Arias at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York. Miller is undefeated as a pro boxer with 17 of his 19 wins coming via knockout.