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Belizean Big Baby is Top World Heavyweight Contender
posted (January 2, 2018)
Did you know that one of the top heavyweight contenders in the world is a Belizean? Unless, you're a true fight fan, you probably didn't, but Jarrell Miller, known as the Big Baby is on the verge of becoming a household name - and we don't just mean in Belize.

The WBA, the IBF and the WBO all rank him in the top five heavyweight contenders worldwide. Jarrell and his family are visiting Belize and we tracked him down to Bacab Waterpark today where we found out more about the boy who was born in Belize City - and migrated to Brooklyn, New York at the age of 6.

But, first we got the introduction from his buddy, and traveling companion, world famous ring announcer, David Diamante.

David Diamante
"Introducing first, fighting on the red corner, wearing the southern black trunks, he weighed in at already 275 pounds. His professional record a perfect one. Twenty fights, twenty victories, 18 coming by way of knock out. Fighting out of Brooklyn New York by way of Belize. Ladies and gentlemen please welcome Jarrell "Big Baby" Miller."

Reporter
"Do you feel like your home?"

Jarrell Miller
"All the time, as soon as I get off of the plane it's like this relief off my shoulder and I'm just relaxed."

David Diamante
"I see Jarrell in the top 10 of the sport without a doubt. I think he is right there. I think right now the heavy weights are so exciting. Obviously Joshua and Wilder is the fight that everyone wants to see but a lot of people are talking about Big Baby as they should be. Jarrell can hit and he knows how to fight."

Reporter
"Tell me what you feel is your comparative advantage in the ring?"

Jarrell Miller
"Size is only just a part of it. Being me and being able to carry and maneuver my weight is definitely an attribute that's in my favor. I've been big for so long that I don't seem as big as people think I am. Salbutes and Panades has finally paid off. So people can't see the disadvantage but heavy weights from the early days compared to know were way bigger and way different. Guys that were fighting were over 6' 8" but trying to be 260. I feel like it hinders more than anything because you really have to maneuver at a weight that you're normal at. So if you're walking around 270, training at 270 and come down gradually. But guys walk around with 272 and come down at 250 when it's time to fight, you're actually making yourself weaker. So my goal is actually to be 10-20 lbs. a little bit heavier than what I fight at and stay to just maintain it. So coming down from my last fight at 280 was really for the media per say because I fought 290 than how I fought before at 280-275 and I didn't feel as great as I did. I still got to win but it makes us go back to the drawing board and figuring out where we went wrong and fixing those things. Being big and eating journey cake for breakfast is what I need and what's been getting me there and getting me these wins and staying true to my roots. The main thing is being heavy at world champion. That's the number one goal and one of my goals in the near future, I have a lot of respect and I look up to Honorable Prime Minister Dean Barrow. I really want to get the help of the government and open up two locations of gyms. One in the inner city of Belize City where the kids can come and train and see me train, and train together. It's going to help bring the youths off the street and giving them a purpose. As well as opening a second location probably in Placencia or San Pedro which is a little more isolated and away from distraction so when I'm training these multi-million dollar fights I have somewhere to train. Wherever I go the cameras follow me, and I want to do it in Belize where I'm doing my full training camp. It's going to be a short time where I'm going to come here, bring more attraction, bring tourism and more economic stability in our country. Me being African American, also in Belize is my number one priority. This should not only change my future and my family but also the kids and the people of Belize. So I feel like showing people, 'oh he's American', I'm from Brooklyn, I can turn up, that's where I'm from. But I'm also a Belizean at the same time, I can lay back and be cool in the water, but don't piss me off."

Jarrell is on vacation with his Belizean wife and son - as well as Diamante. His next fight on HBO Boxing is in April. You can hear more of his interview on tomorrow's news. Later this week, he will be doing some motivational speaking for over 100 of the Belmopan Police youth cadets.

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