While there is still no official word on when, where and who will Tyson Fury compete against later this year, British promoter Frank Warren does have one controversial boxer in mind as a potential opponent.
In a column he wrote for talkSPORT, Warren explained that Fury will likely be heading back to the United States for his next fight, potentially at Madison Square Garden either in September or October. Warren hoped that an official announcement can be made soon and that everything can be finalized in a timely manner.
When it comes to the subject of the opponent, Warren said that unbeaten heavyweight contender Jarrell Miller is someone that is being considered. Miller is currently serving a six-month suspension for failing multiple drug tests in March, testing positive for GW1516, EPO and HGH. This effectively killed any plans Miller had of challenging Anthony Joshua for the unified WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles at Madison Square Garden on June 1.
That honor went to Andy Ruiz Jr., who would go on to pull off the upset and stop Joshua to win the unified belts and now the two of them are likely headed for a rematch by the end of the year. As for Miller, he actually was in attendance for Fury's last fight against Tom Schwarz on June 15, creating speculation that Miller is a possible opponent for Fury's next fight this fall. Below is what Warren had to say about Miller and his current drug suspension.
"The objective is to build up to him fighting Deontay Wilder again after their highly controversial first meeting which obviously should have resulted in a victory for Tyson. Hopefully, we get him in there with an American later this year and I am open to the prospect of Jarrell Miller being Tyson’s next opponent.
Miller’s failed drugs tests cost him a shot at Anthony Joshua in June and a six-month suspension. I’m really anti-drugs and I think there should be some seriously, seriously strict penalties for it.
I don’t police the sport, that is up to the governing bodies, and they’re letting everyone down by handing these pathetic little bans out.
The only way they’re going to get rid of drugs in sport and boxing is Draconian measures. There’s no place for it. There has to be severe consequences. But having been handed only a short suspension, Miller will be ready to return to the ring in September and, if he’s licensed, then there’s nothing I can do about that. He’ll be considered by us."
Fury signed a multi-fight co-promotional deal with Top Rank with the first fight being on June 15 against Schwarz, which ended with Fury winning by second-round TKO. That fight headlined a Top Rank on ESPN+ card from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and his next fight will also be broadcast on an ESPN platform in the United States.
The full column, where Warren also discusses the upcoming British heavyweight title bout between Nathan Gorman and Daniel Dubois, can be read at this link.
