When Jarrell Miller entered the ring on Saturday at Madison Square Garden, he likely expected a tough fight with Kingsley Ibeh.
But what he didn’t anticipate was a dramatic moment that would steal the show - his toupee coming loose after a flurry of punches from Ibeh, as reported by BBC Sport.
The 37-year-old heavyweight not only clinched a narrow split-decision victory but also entertained the crowd in an unforgettable way, throwing his hairpiece into the stands after it had been dislodged late in the second round.
The Bizarre Reason Behind Miller's Toupee
Miller’s hairpiece, which had started to come loose from the punches, turned into the highlight of the night when the boxer decided to toss it into the crowd.
However, the reason for Miller’s toupee was even more bizarre than the moment itself.
In a post-fight interview, Miller revealed that he had recently lost his natural hair after an unfortunate shampoo incident.
"I get to my mama's house and I saw some shampoo bottles on the table," Miller explained.
"I shampooed and it was like ammonium bleach. I literally lost my hair like two days ago. So I called my manager and said, 'Get me one of those manes,' and I slapped that on real quick. It’s funny, man. I'm a comedian and you've got to make fun of yourself."
Miller's Victory Despite the Distraction
Though Miller was distracted by his wayward hairpiece, he managed to focus enough to win the fight by split decision.
The loss of his toupee didn’t shake his composure, and he quickly shifted from comedy to fighter mode.
As the hairpiece flew into the crowd, Miller celebrated as if he had just won a championship bout, before snapping back into the seriousness of the fight at hand.
"I’ve seen a lot in boxing, but I’ve never seen that," DAZN commentator Chris Mannix remarked, capturing the absurdity of the moment.
Miller's Tumultuous Career and Comeback
While Miller's bout with Ibeh ended in victory, his boxing career has been anything but straightforward.
Miller, who had previously been scheduled to fight Anthony Joshua in 2019, saw that match canceled after failing a drug test.
His return in 2022 saw him suffer his first career loss to Daniel Dubois, followed by a draw with Andy Ruiz, the man who replaced him for the Joshua fight.