Freddie
Miller is one of the more underrated world champions of his time. He
was a very skilful boxer, who made excellent use of his southpaw jab.
Miller was not a big puncher, but a slick and quick, craftsman. During
his career, Miller met the top featherweights of the day, including Bushy
Graham, Battling Battalino, Alberto ‘Baby’ Arizmendi,
Speedy Dado, Petey Sarron, Chalky Wright, Sammy Angott and Panama Al
Brown. At a time when boxers were far busier than they are now, Miller
was one of the busiest, fighting 247 times in his 13 year career. Miller
was also a true globe traveling fighter; his career spanning America
and Europe, as he fought as often as he could, usually against top
liners. Miller turned professional at the age of 16-years-old and within
a few years, he was boxing top opposition. In his first two years
fighting, Miller built up a 58-1-1 record.
In his first shot
at the World featherweight title on July 23, 1931, Miller was out-pointed by Battling Battalino over 10 rounds. The two men met again for
the world title six months later, this time the fight was declared a no-contest after 3 rounds, when both men, who were stablemates, failed to
satisfy the referee that they were trying to fight. When Battalino
vacated the world title a few months later, because of weight issues,
Freddie Miller won recognition from the NBA as World featherweight
champion when he out-pointed Tommy Paul for the vacant world title, in
Chicago on January 13,1933. Miller won general recognition as World
featherweight champion when he defeated the British champion Nel Tarlton
on points in England, in 1934.
Miller was a busy world champion, making 10 defences of his title, all over the world, and engraining in 88 fights in all, from 1933 to 1936, going 78-9-1.
Miller continued to box for another two years, his form slipping as his punishing career finally took its toll, and after he was knocked out by Herschel Joiner in 8 rounds, Miller announced his retirement. The Joiner defeat was the only time that Miller had been stopped throughout his career. Miller’s final record was 208(45koes)-31-8.
Miller was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1997.
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He was my sons great granddads friend. Tiger Smith from England he had been in many of match with him.
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