Troy native Shawn Miller wins WBU Cruiserweight World Championship
TROY >> Shawn Miller was crowned the WBU Cruiserweight World Champion on October 12 with a big time win over Milwaukee native Dennis Morris.
“I dominated from the opening bell to the last bell,” said Miller recounting the fight from two weeks ago now.
Miller won the bout over Morris in a unanimous decision at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“I don’t go into the ring with any expectation except I do anticipate, and I make sure I always am when I go in there, that it will be nothing but a war.”
Miller is now the belt holder as the WBU World Champion, UBF US-East Champion, and the WBF North American Champion.
The South Troy boxer recounted the bout with Morris as one that he dominated from beginning to end. Miller
remembers an initial blow in the second round on Morris that he thought looked to have hurt Morris. Hits in rounds five, seven, and nine sealed the deal for the win by decision for Miller.
“There was no question,” said Miller on the unanimous decision from the judges. “The judges who judge the fight have done over hundred world title fights and have over 20 years of experience. These guys have seen this over 400 times.”
The Troy High Alumni and Lansingburgh Special Ed teacher is now ranked eighth in the United States and 96 in the world with a 19- 4-1 record according to boxrec.com. Miller touts an impressive seven knockouts in his resume.
“To be top ten in my weight class is huge and to say there is probably a handful of people that might be better than you, is something special,” said Miller. “I could win one fight and become number one.”
Miller flew into Las Vegas six days before the event. Miller remembers that once he and his team reached the Albany Airport, the fight was the only thing on his mind.
“It was mentally go time,” said Miller.
Not a superstitious man by any means, Miller has a routine leading up to the fight. One he chooses to keep to himself.
“I do a little few things, I don’t talk about them,” said Miller. “But I do a little few things that I feel comfortable with to put me at ease — It’s a comfort thing, it’s a nice routine to always keep yourself in.”
Comfort is important in boxing, and everything Miller does in preparation to a fight is to make sure he is comfortable from his walk up to the ring, to the last bell.
“First off mentally you have to get right. If you’re not right mentally, it doesn’t matter what you do physically. It’s like any sport, if you don’t believe in yourself and who you are, you might as well pack it in,” said Miller.
On the physical side of preparation, stamina is key.
Miller said, “Conditioning is the most important, because if you can’t go more than a few rounds, you’re finished.”
Miller summarized his average work out when preparing, and it was approximately eight hours a day. That includes everything from sparring to conditioning.
Now in the top ten in the United States, Miller is hungry. He wants more fights, and of course, he wants more belts.
“By no means am I con- tent and okay with where I am at,” said Miller. “My goal is to continue to win more titles, to win the IBF, the WBC, the WBA, the WF, I’d love to win them all, and that is my goal. I want to be the number one in the world.”
Read more about Miller in the coming days on troyrecord.com.