The WBA has removed Jarrell Miller’s status as mandatory heavyweight challenger, saying his placement at the top of its July rankings was the result of an “inadvertent error.”
Miller had been listed as the official mandatory after defeating Lenier Pero by unanimous decision on April 25. The fight had been promoted as a WBA heavyweight title eliminator, and Miller’s victory was widely understood to have secured him a future title shot.
The WBA has now clarified that Miller-Pero was not a final eliminator and therefore did not make Miller the mandatory challenger. Instead, the organization says Moses Itauma holds that position.
Miller publicly challenged the decision, arguing that he had earned his place. “I earn my spot, paid my dues,” he wrote on Instagram while urging the WBA to “do the right thing.”
Miller remains highly ranked by the WBA but no longer holds the guaranteed position to challenge for the heavyweight title. The organization has not publicly explained how the original ranking error occurred or what Miller’s victory over Pero ultimately earned him.
Image Credit: Sky Sports