By Jake Donovan
Anthony Joshua fully expects everything about his life to be the same after his forthcoming U.S. debut on June 1 versus Brooklyn’s Jarrell Miller.
He expects to leave New York City’s Madison Square Garden with his unbeaten record still intact and his slew of heavyweight titles still firmly in his possession. He also figures to feel the same way about Miller as he does right now—with no love at all for his upcoming challenger, who hasn’t hesitated in disrespecting the unbeaten Brit at every turn.
“No respect… but I don’t want none,” England’s Joshua (22-0, 21KOs) insisted during a Sky Sports TV interview Monday in London, shortly after concluding the second leg of their two-city press tour to promote the DAZN USA heavyweight title fight headliner. “I don’t even need Jarrell Miller’s respect. Even after I beat him, I don’t want his respect.”
The deep-seeded disdain between the heavyweights dates back to Miller (23-0-1, 20KOs) crashing a DAZN USA New York City press conference last July.
The event was designed to promote Joshua’s debut on the streaming platform and his planned title defense versus Alexander Povetkin, whom he would go on to stop in seven rounds last September in London. Miller, who has since also joined the DAZN USA family, took advantage of the moment to enter his own name in the heavyweight sweepstakes, as well as get inside of Joshua’s heads with a slew of personal insults.
Joshua has since done his best to not pay the summertime incident any mind, as his plans called for a pair of headliners at London’s famed Wembley Stadium. However, a planned April 13 appearance at the venue was scrapped when Matchroom Boxing and the DAZN brass instead decided it was time for the 2012 Olympic Gold medalist and reigning unified titlist to bring his act to the U.S.
From there, the selection of the 30-year old Miller became all but an obvious choice. The past history made for a built-in storyline, not to mention the Brooklynite fighting for the heavyweight crown in his home region and his last two fights having aired live on DAZN, the most recent a 4th round knockout of previously unbeaten Bogdan Dinu last November.
A press conference to formally announce Joshua-Miller was held last Tuesday at MSG, with tempers flaring the moment both fighters set foot on stage. Joshua walked forward with arms behind his back, only to be met with a violent shove from an already worked-up Miller as the heavyweights were immediately separated.
Monday’s session on Joshua’s side of the Atlantic in London carried a far calmer tone, but hasn’t done anything to change how the 29-year old Brit feels about his next challenger.
Nor will the outcome of their in-ring battle.
“I’m not into that fanfare. I’m not into shaking hands after a fight,” Joshua readily admits. “If you disrespect me now, you disrespect me for a lifetime.
“I’m petty, I hold grudges. But that’s just who I am. I’m not looking for his respect, not one bit. He is who he is, and I don’t even want to change him.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
