Brooklyn heavyweight contender Jarrell Miller knows technique is vital

Jarrell Miller

Jarrell Miller/Photo courtesy of Salita Promotions

 

Jarrell Miller of Brooklyn is looking to make a name for himself in the heavyweight division. Although he has a record of 17-0-1 with 15 knockouts against very mediocre competition, he apparently realizes that this game is about a lot more than just power.

This past Saturday’s heavyweight title fight between champion Anthony Joshua of England and Alhambra’s Dominic Breazeale showed Miller that, if he didn’t already know it.

“I’m going back to basics in this camp,” said Miller, who next will take on journeyman Fred Kassi on Aug. 19 at Rhinos Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. (on Showtime). “I’m an advanced fighter, but there are a couple of things I’ve wanted to work on. It’s easy for heavyweights to rely on power and forget about technique. You see what happened to Dominic Breazeale against Anthony Joshua?  His power didn’t mean jack because there was no technique behind it.  I want to be the kind of fighter who puts his technique first and power last.”

Breazeale was 17-0 with 15 knockouts when he stepped into the ring with Joshua, and Joshua stopped Breazeale in the seventh round. Breazeale’s lack of technique – he didn’t don the boxing gloves until he was 23 – was evident, especially when compared to Joshua’s.

Miller, 27, is ranked as high as No. 8 in the world by one governing body and No. 9 by another. He stands 6-foot-4.

Kassi is 0-3-1 in his past four bouts. But the losses were to Amir Mansour, Breazeale and Hughie Fury; the draw was against contender Chris Arreola. Kassi (18-5-1, 10 KOs) seems unfazed by Miller’s accomplishments.

“I approach Jarrell like all young fighters,” said Kassi, 36, of New Orleans.  “I’m a seasoned pro that has fought top-tier opponents. Jarrell will have to bring his ‘A’ game against me. He’s got size and power, but it’s nothing I haven’t seen.”

 

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