Anthony Joshua vs Jarrell Miller: Brit insists rival's drugs accusation is a ‘compliment’ in passionate defence

The American has resorted to trash talk in the build-up to the world heavyweight title fight at Madison Square Garden in New York

Anthony Joshua has laughed off Jarrell Miller’s claims he has used performance enhancing drugs by insisting the slur is a “compliment.”

Joshua has been dragged into an intense verbal exchange with the boisterous American since announcing their world heavyweight title clash in New York on June 1. The unified champion has even vowed to “reconstruct” Big Baby’s face when they meet at Madison Square Garden.

The Brooklyn brawler, of Belizean descent, contends the Brit’s dominant ascent has been artificially aided.

“We can see it, you can look at him and say this dude (Joshua) is on steroids,” Miller said. “Anybody who comes out of the amateurs at 220-something pounds and a year later he’s 240-something – there’s something wrong with that picture.

“If they’re training every day and your athlete is training for multiple fights there is no way you’re going to put on twenty-something pounds of muscle in a year without taking some kind of supplements – what I’m trying to say is it’s impossible.

“I know bodybuilders who train all year round on stuff (steroids and illegal substances) and don’t put on that amount of muscle. But I get it – it is what it is.”

Miller himself was suspended for nine months in 2014 after testing positive for the stimulant methylhexaneamine (also known as dimethylamylamine). He insists he was uninformed about which supplements were or were not permitted and blames the anti-doping organisations today for not helping to educate fighters sooner about changes to the list of banned substances.

Draped in chunky golden chain and sporting an enormous £7,000 watch on his wrist, which he jokes is big enough to be used as a weapon, the 30-year-old emboldens his claim by contending there is a noticeable difference in Joshua’s physique leading up to his fights.

“A couple of weeks before a fight you can see his physique has kind of shrunk,” Miller adds. “His arms have kind of shrunk he’s mostly neck more than shoulders and arms. You can do your research yourself – look at pictures for comparison is what I’m trying to say.”

Joshua appeared perplexed upon being informed of Miller’s latest verbal bullet, brushing it off and attributing physical gifts to the commitment he shows to his lifestyle.

“That’s a compliment,” a bewildered Joshua remarked. “Because, if I was, I would not even be able to fit in this shirt.

Miller has accused Joshua of taking performance enhancing drugs (Reuters)

“I dedicate to myself to training which you can see through my physique training. I have applied myself properly and they are the results. I have been training since I was 18, so that’s 11 years.

“He’s looking at my change between 2012 and 2013 but why doesn’t he look at the 11 years? Around the Olympics I was around 104kg then when I turned pro I was around 107kgs, so that’s around half a stone (seven pounds).

The fighters go head to head (Getty)

“Now I am 115kg, so that’s 11kg in 11 years, it averages out. It’s just my dedication.

“Look on my social media, it’s my dedication. I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone because it’s expensive, especially the food I drink and the lifestyle and training.”

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn was quick to reveal the champion now spends £40,000 per fight on drugs testing with the UK anti-doping authority and WADA (including the ADAMS system to determine Joshua’s exact wherasbouts throughout the year).

Anthony Joshua during the press conference (PA)

But despite evidently being irked by the accusation, Joshua insists he is even more hurt when being goaded about his chin or inability to absorb a shot in the ring, referencing his heavy knockdown at the hands of Wladimir Klitschko in 2017.

“If people say I have no chin then that hurts,” Joshua admits. “Because it’s facts and there’s not much to say back.”

Talk aside, Joshua, riled by his opponent, intends to let his fists do the talking come June 1, hoping to deliver an emphatic conclusion to ensure Miller regrets his provocation.