Anthony Oluwafemi Joshua looks set to face Jarrell Miller in his next fight after talks with Whyte collapse

NIGERIAN-born world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Oluwafemi Joshua looks set to face American Jarrell Miller in his next fight due to take place on June 1 as talks with Dillian Whyte over a rematch appeared to have collapsed due to financial disagreements.

On December 22, British boxer Whyte knocked out compatriot Dereck Chisora at the 02 Arena in London, making him the favourite to take on Joshua. However, talks between the two sides have collapsed, with Joshua ’s promoter Eddie Hearn, saying he is now in advanced talks with Miller because Whyte is pricing himself out of a clash.

Mr Hearn has turned to Miller because Whyte has rejected his latest offer of £5m to face Joshua at Wembley on April 13. With it unlikely that the all-British clash will now go ahead, Mr Hearn is in serious negotiations with the unbeaten American Miler over a fight with Joshua in his native New York, possibly on June 1 at Madison Square Garden or the Barclays Center.

Apparently, Whyte has been demanding £7m to face Joshua on April 13 and none of the other opponents appear to be available. For instance, Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury are in talks about their rematch, so both of them appear out of the running for now.

Miller’s handler Dmitriy Salita, said: “Eddie and I have a great working relationship. We have discussed this possibility for some time now. and I believe the fight will happen at the right time.

“Joshua already knocked out Dillian Whyte, so while it may be an interesting fight in the UK, I don’t know the interest for it in world boxing terms. Miller vs Joshua is one of the biggest fights in boxing and I am confident it will happen at the right time."

He added that Jarrell's career is progressing steadily and he is on the path to winning a world title. According to Mr Salita, they want to make history and join the ranks of Brooklyn heavyweight greats Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe.

In September 2018, Joshua, 28, became the World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF), International Boxing Organisation (IBO) and World Boxing Organisation champion after beating Ukrainian Vladimir Klitschko. He was angling for a unification fight with World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Deontay Wilder, which if he wins will make him the undisputed world champion but this looks off the cards for now as Wilder has unfinished business with Tyson Fury.