Joshua’s road into USA could begin with Miller
Anthony Joshua’s attempt to crack America could begin at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York in August against the man who calls himself 'Big Baby' Jarrell Miller.
Joshua, the WBA and IBF heavyweight champion, is currently deep in preparation for his unification clash against WBO belt holder Joseph Parker at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on March 31.
But his promoter Eddie Hearn is already considering the London 2012 Olympic champion's next three or four moves and says it is highly likely that Easter Saturday will be his last outing in the UK until at least December.
A clash with Alabama's Deontay Wilder, the big-punching WBC champion, remains in the works but it appears unlikely that Joshua's first transatlantic outing will be against him.
Instead, a summer clash with Miller could be next up for Joshua should he come through against Parker without any problems.
“The plan was always for Anthony to box three times this year,” Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn told The Independent.
“March, August and then December. There is a lot of planning to do obviously and right now Anthony has no interest in looking past Joseph Parker on March 31. That's my job to plan his future.
“I'd love to see Anthony box in New York next and the Barclays Center is our home. Obviously to fight a kid out of Brooklyn like Jarrell Miller makes a lot of sense and he's a great talker.
“If the Wilder fight doesn't happen then Miller could well be next.”
First Miller must take care of arguably his toughest fight to date when he takes on Johann Duhaupas on the Matchroom Boxing promoted card at the Barclays Center on April 28.
Hearn will be ringside for his show during which his fighters KatieTaylor and Danny Jacobs will also be in action.
And he will also be keeping a close eye on Miller against Frenchman Duhaupas, a former Wilder victim and a once-considered opponent for Joshua.
Hearn added: “Jarrell is fighting on our show in Brooklyn on April 28, we are working with his promotional company on that one. That's a WBA eliminator.
“Jarrell is a big character, a good fighter and he's from Brooklyn and if he looks good against Duhaupas and gets the win I think there is every chance that could be next for Anthony.”
Meanwhile, Wilder takes on dangerous southpaw Luis Ortiz at the Barclays Center on March 3 and insists he wants Joshua next.
However the two camps are still locked in negotiations with Wilder, whose profile is dwarfed by that of Joshua, insistent that he deserves a 50-50 split of any purse.
Joshua is the poster boy of British boxing and still a burgeoning star in America but an outing against Miller will only raise his profile and help build any fight with Wilder.
Hearn added: “We will have to fight Alexander Povetkin at some point too if he beats David Price on March 31 so that's another thing to consider.
“But the Miller fight is a genuine possibility if him and AJ both win their next fights.
“Then I think the Wilder fight would become even bigger because it would only help his profile in America.”