American Jerrell "Big Baby" Miller will headline the Matchroom Boxing/DAZN main event from Las Vegas Saturday night against older, but unbeaten prospect Leiner Pero of Cuba.
Heavyweight Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller is back on a quick turnaround of just 80 days to square off with unbeaten Cuban Leiner Pero in a WBA title eliminator that will headline the Matchroom Boxing/DAZN show at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas Saturday night.
Miller recently fought on the Teofimo Lopez-Shakur Stevenson undercard on Jan. 31 in New York. This, as the big talking, drug test failing heaywieght labored to a tougher-than-expected 10-round split decision over Kingsley Ibeh.
That fight was more known for the end of the second round, as Miller got hit by Ibeh and it dislodged his hairpiece, making it flap on top of his head. Miller later tore it off his head between rounds and tossed the toupee into the crowd. Interestingly, he aimed it where WBO heavyweight titlist Fabio Wardley caught it at ringside.
Miller joked about the moment earlier this week,
“The toupee thing was something that was definitely not planned but we ran with it and it worked in our favor,” said Miller. “Kingsley was not a walkover. He gave me a run for my money, but I take an ugly win over a good loss any day. Pero called me out before which I was shocked by, but come (Saturday) I’ll be whooping his ass real good.”
The 37 year old Miller, 27-1-2, 22 KOs, of Brooklyn, New York, who has been 300-plus founds for his nine fights since 2017 was 317½ against Ibeh but was a "smaller" 305 at Friday’s weigh-in.
He appears to have seriously trained for the challenge of Pero that will position the winner for a far more significant bout. Miller also has the background of multiple failed PED tests and drug suspensions to always answer for.
“I need someone to get my juices running,” said Miller, who trained for this bout with Bozy Ennis in Philadelphia. “I’m going to beat this bitch’s ass bad. He might need to get a one-way boat back to Cuba. It’s not going to be any of that pretty moving around, I’m going back to the old school and I’m going to run him over ‘Big Baby’ style. I’m throwing 70-80 punches a round. He’s going to try to move around and box. I’ve seen the stuff he does in the gym, but I’m going to beat the brakes off his ass, trust me.”
Hear insider Dan Rafael and me break this fight down off our "Big Fight Weekend Preview" podcast by clicking play below,
The southpaw Pero, 13-0, 8 KOs, is believed to be 33 years old (you never know with Cuba fighters) and is a 2016 Cuban Olympian fighting out of Miami. He is facing his first notable opponent in Miller, and Pero is coming off a 10 round win over Jordan Thompson, a career cruiserweight, back in November.
“It’s crazy because a year ago we were both asking for an opportunity, so it shows what warriors we are that we’re here now,” said Pero through an interpreter earlier this week. “I know this fight comes with great expectation but I am ready and here for victory.
“If he’s studied me he knows I am a warrior and I never give in. He’s been saying a lot of bullshit but that doesn’t affect my psychology in any way. Opponents have come before and they have never stopped me in my tracks. I’m going to go in there and break him. I do my talking in the ring with my fists.”
Lots of talking and now, how much fighting will go on in the Vegas ring Saturday night?