Heavyweight contender Jarrell Miller’s difficult times continue into 2024, following a challenging end to the previous year. Miller, hailing from Brooklyn, was arrested in Hollywood, Florida, less than two weeks after his first professional loss to Daniel Dubois. The Broward County Sheriff’s Department reported that Miller, 35, faced charges of carjacking without a firearm or weapon and burglary with assault or battery, leaving him in custody with a bond set at $30,000.
WSVN-7, a Miami television station, detailed the incident, reporting that Miller stole a Black Dodge Ram pickup truck from Haims Motors, a dealership in Hollywood. The truck, recently repossessed, became the object of contention when Miller, aided by an unidentified woman, assaulted a dealership employee and drove off in the vehicle. The woman allegedly claimed she left her cell phone in the truck, leading to the confrontation.
This arrest adds to Miller’s list of troubles outside the ring, which includes past issues with performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). Miller was notably removed from a high-profile fight against Anthony Joshua in April 2019 after testing positive for banned substances, costing him a significant payday. His replacement, Andy Ruiz Jr., went on to defeat Joshua in a stunning upset. Miller faced another PED test failure in July 2020 before a scheduled fight against Jerry Forrest, resulting in a two-year suspension.
Despite his return to the ring and stringing together three victories, Miller’s comeback was halted by London’s Dubois in their December 2021 fight. The bout, part of the Joshua-Otto Wallin undercard in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, ended with Dubois stopping Miller in the 10th round.
Adding to his woes, Miller is also embroiled in a legal battle with promoter Dmitriy Salita, who seeks nearly $5 million in damages from Miller, mostly related to earnings lost due to his PED test failures. This series of events paints a grim picture for the 6-foot-4, 330-pound fighter, highlighting a career marred by self-inflicted problems and casting a shadow on his future in the sport.
Image Credit: Sky Sports