Nelson: If Miller fails his second test, severe punishment is required

As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, Anthony Joshua's next scheduled opponent, Jarrell Miller, made an "unfavorable finding" in a test conducted last month by the Volunte Anti-Doping Association (VADA), according to the promoter Eddie Hearn.

Joshua (22-0) should defend his heavyweight titles WBA, IBF, IBO and WBO in his US debut against the same unbeaten Miller at Madison Square Garden on June 1st.

But as the 2012 Olympic gold medalist continues his preparations for the fight, Hearn – who represents the two fighters under his Matchroom banner – revealed that he had been informed of an adverse finding by the New Yorker Miller.

"VADA informed us that there had been an adverse finding in Jarrell Miller's sample collected on March 20, 2019," wrote Hearn on Twitter.

"We are working with all parties involved and will keep up with more details.JP Preparation will continue for June 1st at MSG."

The former world heavyweight champion and Sky Sports expert, Johnny Nelson, is in shock.

"It's a total shock.If that's true, it's a silly situation.If it fails a second test, it must be punished severely.I remember Lennox Lewis." Boxer Vitali Klitschko, Klitschko was a substitute and it was a tough fight but Lewis won, "Nelson told Sky Sports.

"The [replacement] Opponents who come six weeks before the fight are the hardest. These are the ones for which you can not get up, to obsess. For them, it's a huge opportunity. The name that comes to mind is Kubrat Pulev, who allegedly fought Joshua without injury. This is a strong possibility.

"Then there is the dangerous Luis Ortiz who has already lost against Deontay Wilder, an outside bet is Michael Hunter, there are still options, but there are only six weeks left, but whoever comes in knows that he is Anthony Joshua is very good. "

Miller (23-0-1) was beaten for the last time in November, beating Romanian Bogdan Dinu in four rounds. Two months later, Joshua was arresting former world champion Alexander Povetkin of Russia at Wembley.