Kingsley Ibeh believes fans, and Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller, will see the difference in him now he’s able to dedicate all his time to boxing training. It’s not so long ago that the reported cousin of former heavyweight contender Ike Ibeabuchi was working as a bouncer in a topless bar in Phoenix.

Whether the heavyweight, who this weekend does battle with Miller on the Teofimo Lopez Jnr-Shakur Stevenson undercard, enjoyed that line of employment is unknown but it certainly played havoc with his preparation during the early days of his 16-2-1 (14 KOs) career.

“I worked as a personal trainer and at a topless bar in Phoenix,” Ibeh said. “If I were still a bouncer, I’d be working 4-9 p.m., seven days a week, with no option to enjoy time in the gym. It was a struggle, but now I am taking time off for training camp.”

Ibeh, 32, would lose his second professional fight though he did manage to hold the world-ranked Guido Vianello to a six-round draw in 2020. His next fight, however, saw the Nigeria-born former college football player knocked out in five rounds by Jared Anderson, also known as “Big Baby." The only other notable name on his record is the faded Gerald Washington, whom Ibeh savaged in three rounds in his most recent bout in September.

Miller, though inactive since drawing with Andy Ruiz in August 2024, will represent a significant jump in class when they clash inside New York’s Madison Square Garden.

“I believe I will stop him,” Ibeh predictably predicted. “I’ve been preparing to fight the best version of Miller and expect he’ll come in at his best. I want to throw and take punches, keep fighting physically, and come forward. I expect to be booed when I walk to the ring. He lives there [in New York].”

“Miller was fighting top level opponents when I first started boxing and now he’s my opponent. Idols are now rivals. We’re both big, tough and strong. But it’s not the size of the dog, what matters is the fight in the dog. I’ve learned that football is physical, boxing you need discipline, and spar to learn, punch to hurt.

“I’m grateful and blessed to fight on this stage. It will be career changing for me, more of a lifestyle change from getting more exposure. I’ll get more fans because more people will hear my story and I’ll go up to the next level. I can have an impact.”