Bob Miller Interview: My Son Light Heavyweight Shawn Miller Will Be UBF Champion
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Bob Miller is the father and trainer of 2008 Empire State Games Gold Medalist Shawn Miller, now a professional light heavyweight with a record of 14-1, fighting out of the Albany, New York area. Shawn Miller fights May 9, 2014, against Willie Williams, for the Universal Boxing Federation Northeastern Regional Light Heavyweight title against 14-9-2 Willie Williams in an eight round main event bout at Whitehall Athletic Club in Whitehall, New York. In a Real Combat Media exclusive interview before the event, he discussed his son’s promising future.
Real Combat Media: “Is Shawn ready for tonight’s UBF title bout with Willie Williams?”
Bob Miller: “My son Shawn is ready. He does look good. I’m down with how he feels. He’s confident.”
Real Combat Media: “Do you feel you got robbed in your 12 round decision loss to Tony Averlant in France recently for the World Boxing Federation World Light Heavyweight title.”
Bob Miller: “I looked at it (carefully). If the world title bout were held anywhere else than France, Shawn would have gotten the decision, but we still did not do enough in Tony Averlant’s hometown to take the decision from him. He threw more punches, but he did not hit anything, just shoulders, gloves, elbows. Averlant retired after the bout.”
Real Combat Media: “Would you fight for the vacant WBF World Light Heavyweight title now that Tony Averlant has retired?”
Bob Miller: “We have first crack, as does the other person who fought Tony Averlant for the WBF world title, 23-2 Serdar Sahin of Berlin, Germany. We would not go to Germany for the WBF vacant title bout. Whoever fights us would have to come to the United States. We would try to fight the next WBF world title bout over here (if it happens).”
Real Combat Media: “Are you interested in fighting the winner of the WBA World title bout between Nathan Cleverly and Juergen Brahmer, Bernard Hopkins, or Tommy Karpency? Adonis Stevenson? Sergei Kovalev? Seanie Monaghan?”
Bob Miller: “Sure. Any of those. Karpency is in the mix. I work with Adonis Stevenson, so that bout would not happen. Not (yet) Kovalev. We have been offered Seanie Monaghan by DiBella Entertainment, but we will not fight him in New York City (Lou DiBella’s home turf). For that bigger fight to be considered, the money and conditions have to be right.”
Real Combat Media: Did Shawn and his opponent Willie Williams both make weight at 175 pounds for their light heavyweight regional UBF eight round title bout tonight?”
Bob Miller: “Yes, both made weight.”
Real Combat Media: “Are you working with UBF official Mike Melendez for a higher level UBF regional or world title fight in your next bout?”
Bob Miller: “We will work with the UBF, whatever we can figure out, whatever we can do, as long as we can keep fighting (regularly). I’m hoping for July 19, 2015, in Albany, New York, a UBF ten rounder. I’m not looking at future opponents till we get through Willie Williams. I predict my son Shawn Miller will beat Willie Williams by eight round decision. Stop him earlier than that? We would love to!”
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