By Keith Idec
NEW YORK – Anthony Joshua won’t mind hearing some boos for a change.
The unbeaten British superstar figures Jarrell Miller’s fans will let him hear it when they square off June 1 at Madison Square Garden. Though thousands of British fans are expected to make this transatlantic trip to witness his first fight in America, the 29-year-old Joshua’s first professional fight outside of the United Kingdom will take place in Miller’s hometown.
“I don’t mind so much,” Joshua told a group of reporters. “I’m not too fussed about the popularity stuff, and the cheers and the boos. Um, just winning, man. That’s all, yeah, so I’m not too bothered.”
England’s Joshua would be bothered if he allows their 12-round heavyweight championship match to go to the scorecards. Even though Joshua (22-0, 21 KOs) obviously is the “A” side of this promotion, the IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO champion realizes he is the visiting fighter and shouldn’t put himself in the potentially vulnerable position of losing a decision in the challenger’s home country.
Only one of Joshua’s 22 pro bouts has gone the distance. He defeated New Zealand’s Joseph Parker convincingly in that 12-rounder March 31 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
The 2012 Olympic gold medalist doesn’t intend to let it happen again when he meets Miller.
“I’ve gotta get rid of Miller,” Joshua said. “You know, I had fun with Parker when I fought him. I said, ‘I’m gonna out-box him,’ because they said, ‘Oh, he can’t box. You can knock someone out.’ But no one really said I can box until then. So [it was] just [about] proving I can go the rounds and I can box. But I’m done with that now. It’s back to knockouts and Miller’s number 23 on my list.”
The 30-year-old Miller (23-0-1, 20 KOs) also feels he must knock out Joshua to pull off an upset in his first title fight.
“It ain’t going to the cards,” Miller said. “I know I’m gonna knock him out. I’m gonna knock him out. I’m telling you, you guys haven’t seen the greatest ‘Big Baby’ yet.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
