Jarrell Miller Loses Toupee In Wild Madison Square Garden Bout

On a night already packed with anticipation at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, the undercard of the Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson super-fight delivered a moment that left boxing fans both stunned and amused. Heavyweight contender Jarrell "Big Baby" Miller, a figure never far from the spotlight—or controversy—found himself at the center of an unforgettable scene during his clash with Kingsley Ibeh on February 1, 2026.

The drama unfolded late in the second round. As Ibeh pressed Miller along the ropes, a flurry of punches landed, and suddenly, something truly unexpected happened: Miller’s toupee began to peel off from the front, flopping backward and barely clinging to the back of his head. The crowd gasped, then erupted in laughter and shock as the bizarre sight played out under the bright lights of the Garden. It’s not every day you see a heavyweight’s hairpiece become the story of the night!

Rather than shrink from the embarrassment, Miller embraced the moment with characteristic bravado. At the end of the round, he dramatically tore off the toupee and hurled it into the stands, sticking out his tongue and laughing. The crowd, already buzzing, roared its approval. Miller, now sporting only a ring of hair around his skull, prepared to continue the fight as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

“So, it’s kinda funny, right. I get to my mama’s house, and she had some shampoo bottles under her table, and I shampooed it. That s was like ammonia and bleach. I nearly lost my hair like two days ago, so I called my manager: ‘Let me slap that s on my head real quick.’ And [Ibeh] slapped that s off!” Miller recounted to DAZN after the fight, his laughter echoing his attitude in the ring. “But like I said, it’s funny, man. Listen, I’m a comedian. You’ve got to make fun of yourself. You can’t take life too seriously sometimes, you’ve got to roll with the punches.”

As the third round began, Miller, now hatless and hairless atop his head, continued to box on, undeterred by the viral mishap. The toupee, meanwhile, took on a life of its own. It was spotted on a ringside seat next to WBO heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley, who collected it for safekeeping. Even Mauricio Sulaimán, president of the World Boxing Council, was seen tending to the infamous hairpiece before Miller eventually danced out of the arena with a hat perched on his head. Talk about a keepsake from a wild night at the Garden!

Despite the wardrobe malfunction, the fight itself remained fiercely competitive. Miller, 37, entered the bout promising a knockout but found himself in a tough contest. After losing several early rounds to Ibeh’s aggression and crisp punching, Miller showcased improved cardio and resilience down the stretch. He clawed his way back, ultimately earning a split decision victory with scores of 97-93, 97-93, and 94-96. The win improved his professional record to 27-1-2, including 22 knockouts, while Ibeh dropped to 16-4-1 with 14 KOs. Miller’s celebration in the ring—rubbing the top of his now-bald head—perfectly capped off the night’s comedic undertone.

For Miller, this fight marked more than just a return to the winner’s column. It was his first bout since August 2024, when he fought Andy Ruiz Jr. to a majority draw. That contest was itself a comeback after a tumultuous period in Miller’s career, which has been marred by controversy. Once a top heavyweight prospect, Miller’s reputation took a significant hit in 2019 when he was pulled from a highly anticipated title fight against Anthony Joshua at Madison Square Garden after failing multiple pre-fight drug tests. The fallout was dramatic: Joshua instead faced late replacement Andy Ruiz Jr., suffering his first professional defeat in what became one of boxing’s biggest upsets—ironically, in the same venue where Miller’s toupee drama unfolded.

Miller’s history of failed drug tests extends further back, including a failed test during his kickboxing days in 2014 and another as a boxer in 2020. These incidents led to suspensions and cast a long shadow over his achievements in the ring. Yet, Miller’s ability to generate headlines—whether for his boxing or his antics—has kept him a relevant, if controversial, figure in the crowded heavyweight division.

Saturday’s spectacle was a reminder that in boxing, unpredictability is part of the package. As one seasoned observer put it, “If you’ve watched boxing a while in your life, you know it gets pretty rare you can say you’ve seen something you never saw before. But I’ve never seen this before.” The viral moment quickly spread across social media, with fans and pundits alike marveling at Miller’s good-natured response to what could have been a humiliating episode.

Miller’s willingness to laugh at himself and keep fighting—literally and figuratively—was on full display. In his post-fight interview, he doubled down on his comedic persona, telling Chris Mannix of DAZN, “You’ve got to make fun of yourself.” He explained that the hairpiece was a last-minute addition after a disastrous run-in with a bottle of what he thought was shampoo at his mother’s house. “That s was like ammonium bleach. I literally lost my hair like two days ago. I called my manager and said get me one of those manes and I slapped that s on real quick. Ibeh knocked that s off. It’s funny, man. I’m a comedian, and you’ve got to make fun of yourself.”

The bout itself will be remembered for more than just the split decision. Officials allowed the action to continue uninterrupted during the toupee fiasco, demonstrating that in boxing, the show must go on—no matter what comes flying off. Miller’s ability to stay composed and ultimately secure the win spoke to his experience and resilience, even as the internet buzzed over his unconventional highlight reel.

Even as Miller works to reestablish himself as a contender in the heavyweight ranks, Saturday’s fight is sure to be replayed for years to come. The viral image of a toupee flying through the air at Madison Square Garden is now part of boxing lore, and Miller’s lighthearted handling of the situation has only added to his reputation as one of the sport’s true characters.

As the dust settles—and the toupee finds its way into boxing memorabilia—Jarrell "Big Baby" Miller stands victorious, both in the ring and in the hearts of fans who appreciate a fighter who knows how to take a punch, and a joke, in stride.