Jarrell Miller made his return on Thursday away from the controversy surrounding his absence from the sport.
The former heavyweight contender fought Ariel Bracamonte in Argentina the day after he weighed in a career-high 340-plus pounds.
Looking fleshy at his heaviest ever weight by 24 pounds, “Big Baby” struggled to get going at times but had far too much in his locker for the home fighter.
Jarrell Miller is back
Miller showed signs of his old best but still has a long way to go after 1314 days out of action.
Bracamonte, who scaled 305lbs, had difficulty dealing with the sheer bulk of Miller. After ten rounds, Miller took the decision 97-92 on all three cards.
Before the fight, Miller spoke for the first time about his reputational fight after failing twice for steroids.
He said: This is the last post before the fight. I just want to thank the creator for getting me to this point. And everyone that’s been with me from the start and never changed or switched up on me.
“Life is not perfect, and no one person is perfect. But with hard work and a strong will, you can change and do whatever your heart wants.
“This is for the people. I am one step closer to greatness. Why? – Because I’m the people’s champion.
“It’s time for war. From the streets to the top,” Miller concluded.
Miller was on the verge of a world title shot at Anthony Joshua when his career hit a brick wall. Flagged for three separate substances, the New Yorker had to serve a two-year ban.
When returning from that punishment in 2021, Miller popped again and saw another year added to his exile.
A win over Bracamonte isn’t going to set the world alight. But it’s a start, and Miller will have to lose the excess poundage gradually before mixing it with any of the world’s top heavyweights.
