LONDON — Anthony Joshua has vowed to reconstruct Jarrell Miller’s face and take on a new profession as his surgeon when they meet in New York on June 1.
After last week’s bad-tempered press conference in New York where Miller pushed Joshua in the face-off, this was a more cordial affair in London. The undefeated Joshua (22-0, 21 KOs) puts his IBO, IBF, WBA and WBO titles on the line when he makes his U.S. debut against Miller (23-0-1, 20 KOs) at Madison Square Garden.
There was plenty of trash talk Stateside last week when they met in front of the press, with Miller labelling Joshua a “fraud”, an “Uncle Tom” and a “giant p—-“. Miller said he was speaking in front of a “PG-13” audience in the UK and had enjoyed a cup of tea, so kept bad language to a minimum.
But Joshua — who usually keeps his counsel pre-fight — vowed to knock his opponent out and said he would give him a “makeover in the ring”.
“I was thinking about today on the way here, I’ve still got 10 years left in the sport,” Joshua said. “I don’t know anything else. I like to knock people out and beat people up.
“All that spirit the boy’s [Miller] got over there, talking s—. I am going to strip it from him, that’s what I do to people. I am going to strip his soul from him.
“Look at his face, I am going to reconstruct his face on June 1 and I’m looking forward to the challenge.
“I’ll do the job, I’m a good boxer, a heavy-handed boxer and I’m going to reconstruct his face and body. I am going to be your surgeon and give him a new makeover. I am going to knock him clean out, 100 percent.”
Miller — who looked right at home, putting his feet on the table when he first arrived — pretended to be asleep during Joshua’s statements.
“I am ready for anything, the odds have always been against me,” Miller said in response. “The fans can’t fight for him, that facial can’t fight for him, those nails can’t fight for him. All that nervousness, all that bulls—, high talk can’t fight for him. This is where I’ve come from.”