Jarrell Miller Frowns at Luis Ortiz's Record: I'm a Different Animal

By Edward Chaykovsky

Heavyweight contender Jarrell Miller is still pushing to get a showdown with fellow unbeaten contender Luis Ortiz.

According to Miller, his team was contacted by Ortiz's promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, who advised them that the television networks, HBO and Showtime, are interested in carrying that fight in April or May. Miller hopes the fight could take place in the United States.

Miller (18-0-1, 16 KOs), in his last time out in the ring, knocked out veteran Fred Kassi last August in Rochester, New York.

Ortiz (27-0, 23 KOs) now finds himself in a very strong position. He's the WBA's mandatory challenger - and the vacant 'super' title will be on the line when Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko collide on April 29 at Wembley Stadium.

Ortiz could also be called to take part in a final WBC world title eliminator against Bermane Stiverne, and the winner would be guaranteed a shot at WBC world champion Deontay Wilder.

"I've been hearing about it for a while. Eddie Hearn reached out to my people and they said they wanted to put a deal together," Miller told Sky Sports. "If it makes sense, we'll definitely entertain it, if everybody is scared of Ortiz. Everybody at the top say they are scared of me. I've heard about it from people on Deontay Wilder's team, from people on Ortiz's team.

"I'll be the first to tell you, I want the Ortiz fight. If it's going to be in Brooklyn, down the block from the hospital where I was born, down the neighbourhood from where I grew up, in my city, of course I want that fight. Why not? It seems a perfect time to show my skills."

Miller is not very impressed with Ortiz's record, and believes the hard punching Cuban has only beaten one credible fighter, Bryant Jennings, but also says Jennings did not have enough punching power to hold Ortiz off.

"He's a crafty veteran, but you people don't understand, if you look at Ortiz's record, he hasn't fought nobody except from Bryant Jennings," said Miller. "The only top man he's fought is Bryant Jennings. He's fought Tony Thompson, but Bryant Jennings is the only person on his list.

"Even though he's stopped Bryant Jennings, Bryant Jennings was giving him some problems. Bryant Jennings is not a hard hitter and didn't really have the style to back up Ortiz enough. I'm a different animal. I'm a behemoth."

"Tony Thompson looked like he didn't want to fight. When you put in a healthy, ready behemoth, it's a whole different story, than when they fight a last-minute opponent."