After his PBC on Bounce victory over Dennis Galarza last Friday, one-loss Memphis native is ready to take his talents to the top of the 135-pound division.
Ladarius Miller celebrates his UD win over Dennis Galarza in the main event of a PBC on Bounce show in Las Vegas on August 3, 2018. (Nabeel Ahmad/Premier Boxing Champions)
Ladarius Miller declared himself ready for a 135-pound title shot following Friday’s unanimous decision win over Dennis Galarza in the main event of a PBC on Bounce card at Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall in Las Vegas.
By winning the clash of 25-year-olds, Miller (17-1, 5 KOs) earned his eighth-consecutive victory during a run that includes four knockouts since falling to Rolando Chinea in February 2016. He also improved to 6-1 with three knockouts at Sam’s Town.
Leonard Ellerbe—of Mayweather Promotions, who promotes Miller—said he believes Miller is ready to navigate a field of solid contenders, including Jorge Linares, Javier Fortuna and Luke Campbell.
“Jorge Linares is a former world champion who doesn’t have a fight right now, and I definitely want to test myself against the man who was the longest reigning champion before he lost to Vasyl Lomachenko,” Miller said.
“I like the Luke Campbell fight, or even one against Fortuna. I wouldn’t turn down anything but my collar, so I’d fight any one of those guys. There are 15 guys ranked in each weight class for the four title belts, and I’m looking to get in with anybody within the top five or eight of those rankings. I wasn’t ranked before beating Galarza, but I expect that to change after this fight.”
Miller and the team at Mayweather are on the same page with identifying and targeting the current lightweight champions.
“It’s just all about timing,” Miller said. “There’s not a fighter who has been signed by Floyd Mayweather who has been in my position where Floyd Mayweather and Leonard Ellerbe haven’t got them a shot at a title. I trust them 100-percent that it’s coming.”
Galarza (16-4, 9 KOs) lost his second-straight bout and first to a southpaw. He failed to rebound from April’s unanimous decision loss to two-time title challenger Edner Cherry.
“You saw me being very patient, maybe a little too relaxed because, deep down in my heart, I knew I had control of the fight and anything Galarza was able to do I allowed him to do. But you didn’t see an aggressive Ladarius ‘Memphis’ Miller letting his hands go in combinations,” Miller said.
“You saw me sitting down on a couple of shots once or twice in the fight, but this was definitely a learning experience being in with a tough guy who comes to fight, a prospect or future contender in Dennis Galarza. I’m still learning, but a more aggressive Ladarius ‘Memphis’ Miller is 10 times better.”
For a complete look at Miller vs Galarza, check out our fight page.
