Queensberry Promotions boss Frank Warren has announced that British heavyweight Fabio Wardley will face American Jarrell Miller at the Portman Road Football Ground in Ipswich, UK. For the winner, some very interesting opportunities could open up: according to several sources, the fighter who prevails in Ipswich will go on to face the winner of the bout between Kubrat Pulev and Michael Hunter for the WBA “regular” heavyweight title – a true springboard toward a world title shot. Wardley vs Miller is now official and will take place on June 7.
Fabio Wardley remains unbeaten as a professional, having won 18 of his 19 fights. The only blemish on his record came last March, when he fought to a draw against fellow Briton Frazer Clarke: a brutal war in which neither man managed to convince the judges of their superiority.
Wardley, however, won their rematch in rapid and spectacular fashion, knocking Clarke out in just one round with his devastating right hand. The image of Clarke’s face, visibly disfigured by the impact, went viral and once again highlighted the brutal power of the 30-year-old from Ipswich.
Jarrell Miller, on the other hand, has a rather troubled past, marred by a doping suspension that prevented him from facing Anthony Joshua in 2019, followed by a dramatic weight gain that saw him surpass the 150 kg mark in some of his more recent bouts.
Still, Miller has attempted to get his career back on track. The last time we saw him in action, he exceeded expectations against Andy Ruiz Jr., and many observers felt the draw declared by the judges was overly generous toward the Mexican fighter.
The clash between Wardley and Miller promises to be thrilling, as it pits an explosive, lethal puncher against a battle-hardened pressure fighter known for constantly coming forward and absorbing punishment.
Daniel Dubois only managed to stop the bulky American after ten rounds of sustained bombardment. It will be interesting to see whether Wardley can get the job done faster – and whether he’ll struggle with Miller’s relentless forward march.