Jarrell Miller Edges Kingsley Ibeh by Split Decision

New York, NY, USA - Jarrell Miller returned to the win column on Friday night, edging Kingsley Ibeh by split decision in a scrappy, uneven heavyweight contest on the Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson undercard at Madison Square Garden.

The judges scored the bout 97-93, 97-93 for Miller, with one card favoring Ibeh 96-94, reflecting a fight that swung late after a slow and disjointed opening half.

Fight Overview

Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller 26-1-2 (22 KOs) entered the bout looking to re-establish momentum following his 2024 draw with Andy Ruiz Jr., while Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh 16-3-1 (14 KOs) arrived on a long winning streak and intent on proving he belonged at this level.

What followed was not a technical showcase, but a rugged heavyweight grind defined by clinches, inside exchanges, and incremental momentum shifts rather than sustained dominance.

Early Rounds: Ibeh Sets the Tone

Ibeh, boxing southpaw, began the fight with sharper movement and cleaner early work. He landed the more eye-catching shots in the opening rounds, particularly with straight left hands and compact combinations on the inside. Miller struggled to establish range and rhythm, often smothering his own work as the fight collapsed into close-quarters wrestling.

Through the first three rounds, Ibeh’s activity and accuracy gave him a clear foothold, with Miller unable to generate meaningful offense beyond sporadic single shots.

The Toupee Moment

Late in the second round, the bout took an unusual turn when Ibeh’s punches dislodged Miller’s hairpiece, peeling it back and drawing an audible reaction from the crowd. Before the third round began, Miller removed the toupee entirely and tossed it into the stands, laughing and sticking out his tongue as he returned to action.

The moment briefly shifted the atmosphere in the arena but had no bearing on the competitive balance of the fight, which remained tense and physical.

Middle Rounds: Miller Begins to Grind

From rounds four through six, Miller gradually increased his output, leaning on his size and strength to back Ibeh toward the ropes. While the work was often crude, Miller’s body punching began to slow Ibeh’s footwork, and his pressure started to tell.

Ibeh continued to land in spots, particularly with uppercuts and short hooks inside, but his movement became more limited as Miller’s weight and persistence took effect.

Late Rounds: Momentum Swings to Miller

The decisive stretch came in the final third of the fight. Miller’s body work paid dividends as Ibeh’s output dipped noticeably. In the seventh round, Ibeh touched the canvas in the closing seconds, more a result of fatigue and balance than a clean knockdown, but it underscored the shift in momentum.

Miller closed strongly, landing heavier single shots in rounds nine and ten, including a sharp right hand and left hook combination in the final round that appeared to briefly hurt Ibeh. While the crowd remained restless, Miller did just enough down the stretch to sway two of the three judges.

Official Result

After ten rounds, the judges rendered a split decision victory for Jarrell Miller, with scores of 97-93, 97-93, and 96-94.

What It Means

The win halts Miller’s recent slide and keeps him relevant in the broader heavyweight picture, though questions remain about sharpness and conditioning after long spells of inactivity. For Ibeh, the loss snaps a strong run but confirms his status as a durable, competitive operator who can push established names into uncomfortable territory.

It was not a classic, but in a heavyweight division short on activity, it was another reminder that even stalled tiers can still produce moments — expected and unexpected — when the bell rings.