The bout between
Jarrell Miller and
Kingsley Ibeh is a fight featuring multihyphenates.
Miller (26-1-2, 22 KOs) has transitioned from a kickboxing, Muay Thai, and jiu jitsu career in recent years to become a full-time professional boxer.
Ibeh (16-2, 14 KOs) is a former football player turned insurance salesman now making a claim as a heavyweight contender.
The loser of the January 31 clash will be left contemplating their career once the action concludes at Madison Square Garden in New York
as part of The Ring 6 show.
"I have a street mentality – nobody selling insurance is going to beat me," Miller said on "Inside The Ring."
"I'm a big guy, but I am coming to bang and win fights … I've been a fighter since I was 14. Yes, I've had my speed bumps in life, but I keep pushing to get better and better."
The besmirched 'Big Baby' Miller is looking to revive his career and set himself up for one last run at 37 after performance enhancing drug issues derailed his climb and canceled fights against
Anthony Joshua in 2019 and Jerry Forrest the following year.
Miller has boxed just five times since 2018 and is winless in his last two bouts, a knockout loss against
Daniel Dubois in 2023 and a majority draw against
Andy Ruiz in 2024, a bout many believe Miller did enough to win.
Miller's career was further derailed last year when planned fights against the likes of
Fabio Wardley,
Michael Hunter and
Derek Chisora were all scrapped. Miller said he incurred nearly $200,000 in costs preparing for the trio of fights that never happened.
"I looked at my kids and said, ‘God has a plan for me, and I'm not quitting,’” said Miller. “I can't quit on my dreams because my kids will look at me and say, 'daddy, what happened?' I stay grounded and keep my faith in God. I'm a soldier and stay grounded to my family."
Miller still mans the mic like a master and can talk his way into any matchup. He's hoping a win against the largely unknown Ibeh will help build some serious momentum to set himself up for fights against former heavyweight champions
Tyson Fury,
Deontay Wilder, and Joshua.
"I'm coming into the ring to knock dudes out," said Miller. "I have a do-or-die attitude. I feel amazing in this camp, and am going to knock Kingsley out."
Manouk Akopyan is The Ring's lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan.