Sunday 30 July 2017 04:37, UK
Jarrell 'Big Baby' Miller claimed an eighth round stoppage win over Gerald Washington in their heavyweight clash at the Barclays Center.
The fast-talking Brooklyn heavyweight announced himself on the world scene and backed up his brash pre-fight antics, forcing a retirement of Washington at the end of the eighth round.
Miller, 29, who weighed in 50lbs heavier than Washington, extends his unbeaten record to 19-0-1 and will now be hoping for a shot at the heavyweight world title.
The hometown fighter marched his opponent down form the opening bell, but apart from a heavy right hand, Washington boxed well on the back-foot working behind his jab.
'Big Baby', crude at times, upped the work-rate in the second though and started to find a home for his heavy hands, landing a barrage of punches as he took control of proceedings.
Despite Washington trying to bring his jab into play, Miller continued to make his physical presence felt in the following stanzas, walking in with a high guard, looking to land that powerful knockout blow, undeterred about what was coming back at him.
In the sixth, Washington gambled and backed up Miller, letting his hands go to try and put a dent into his younger opponent.
Despite having some success, Miller was able to quickly regain the upper-hand, finishing the round with a heavy-handed assault on a tiring Washington.
As the fight reached its second half, it became target practice for 'Big Baby' as Washington, 35, struggled to answer the crushing blows coming his way and after a punishing eighth for the Californian, the referee waved off the contest.
Elsewhere on the card, former IBF super-welterweight world champion Jermall Charlo made a successful step up to the middleweight division, stopping Jorge Sebastian Heiland in the fourth round of their WBC world title eliminator.
The Argentinian appeared to have a debilitating injury to his left leg from early on in the fight as Charlo comfortably extended his unbeaten record.
