Miller brands Joshua ‘prima donna’ ahead Madison Square Garden showdown

JMiller branded Anthony Joshua a "prima donna" as their rivalry ignited in New York.

The pair moved to face off at Madison Square Garden in front of the media yesterday but Miller instead shoved his opponent. Security descended on the stage in order to keep the rivals apart before Joshua jumped off in pursuit. Calm eventually descended as both men previewed their heavyweight world title fight, which will take place at the same arena on June 1.

Joshua, who earlier rang the bell to open the New York Stock Exchange, will face his fourth-choice opponent in Miller.

Earlier yesterday, Miller boasted that Joshua would “crack like an egg” before they met face-to-face at the press conference for the June 1 bout.

Miller and Joshua had to be separated when they met last year after the brash American began taunting the unified WBA, WBO & IBF heavyweight champion. The Brooklyn native promised to try and make Joshua flounder again and take territorial advantage on the Brit’s first fight overseas.

“You can definitely expect that,” Miller told Sky Sports. “I know he knows what’s coming.

“I don’t know how much of it he can take.

“I guarantee it, you are going to see him crack like an egg.”

Miller, who usually weighs in at over 300lbs for his fights, is hoping to use his weight and presence to bully Joshua.

“Oh yeah, for sure. I know he’s not prepared for that,” Miller continued.

“This is going to be bully season. He’s bullied for all the right reasons. This is the boxing business, this is the hurt game, so ain’t nothing humble about this or nothing nice about this game. “This is about hard work and doing whatever you can do to win the fight. The realness is going to come out.

“Once that contract signed, all gloves are off.”

Miller will challenge Joshua for the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight titles on June 1 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The event will mark the long anticipated American debut of Joshua - who so far has campaigned his entire career in the UK.

Miller does not believe Joshua will be ready to face someone with nearly 300pounds of force.

In recent fights, Miller has stopped overmatched foes like unknown Bogdan Dinu and very faded former champion Tomasz Adamek. Since become world champion, Joshua has won bouts against Wladimir Klitschko, Dominic Breazeale, Carlos Takam, Joseph Parker, and most recently against Alexander Povetkin last September at Wembley Stadium in London.

But Miller came in the picture after negotiations with Dillian Whyte, Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury fell apart - all of them over financial disagreements.

"This is about hard work and doing whatever you can do to win the fight. The realness is going to come out. Once that contract is signed, all gloves are off," he said. is