You’ve heard of fighters getting knocked down, knocked out, and knocked sideways. But getting your hairpiece knocked clean off? That’s a new one for the boxing record books. Heavyweight contender Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller gave Madison Square Garden one of those moments you just can’t make up when his toupee went flying during his fight against Kingsley Ibeh on January 31, 2026.
- Miller accidentally used ammonia bleach instead of shampoo at his mother’s house, causing him to lose his hair just two days before the fight.
- The Brooklyn boxer paid $700 for a last-minute hairpiece that didn’t survive the second round.
- Despite the hair-raising incident, Miller won the fight by split decision and celebrated by rubbing his bald head while dancing.
A Bad Hair Day Like No Other
Miller was involved in a bizarre incident during his win over Kingsley Ibeh when his hairpiece came off. The moment happened towards the end of the second round when Ibeh landed a series of punches and Miller’s hairpiece started to come away from the front.
One of the punches knocked Miller’s head backward, and his hairpiece popped upward from the front, revealing a large bald spot that covered most of his head. The crowd at MSG went absolutely wild, but probably not for the reason Ibeh was hoping.
Miller finished the round, then ripped it off in his corner and tossed it into the crowd, finishing the bout without it as he went on to clinch victory by split decision. Talk about rolling with the punches.
The Shampoo That Started It All
So how did a professional heavyweight boxer end up in the ring with a toupee in the first place? The story is almost too good to be true.
“I get to my momma’s house, and she had some shampoo bottles under her table. And I shampooed, that s*** was like ammonia and bleach. I only lost my hair like two days ago. So I called my manager, he was like, ‘Let me slap that s*** on real quick.'”
Miller later revealed on The Breakfast Club that he had forked out $700 last minute for the hairpiece. For that kind of money, you could lease a car for a month and at least get something that lasts longer than two rounds. His host joked he should get $650 back since it didn’t exactly stay put during the fight. Fair point.
The Toupee’s Journey Through the Crowd
Once Miller launched his hairpiece into the audience, it took on a life of its own. The hair made the rounds at Madison Square Garden, with WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman procuring it at one point. WBC interim female super-bantamweight champion Skye Nicolson went a step further, trying on the toupee.
Boxer Fabio Wardley was in the crowd near where the hairpiece went missing. He posted, “Don’t worry, I’ll keep it safe.”
DAZN commentator Chris Mannix observed: “I’ve seen a lot in boxing, but I’ve never seen that.” That’s saying something for a sport that’s been around for centuries.
Miller Owned the Moment
The best part? How Miller handled the whole thing. Instead of being embarrassed or losing focus, he leaned into the comedy of it all.
Miller said he got a hairpiece after he lost his hair two days ago. “I’m a comedian,” Miller said during the postfight interview. “You have to make fun of yourself.”
Miller won the fight via split decision and celebrated the victory by rubbing his head while doing a celebratory dance. He knew exactly what everyone was thinking, and he played right into it.
Big Baby’s Bigger Career
Jarrell Miller is an American professional boxer who competes in the heavyweight division. Known by the nickname “Big Baby,” he stands at 6 feet 4 inches tall and fights in an orthodox stance. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Miller began boxing at age 16 and made his professional debut on July 18, 2009.
He moved to 22-1-2 in his career. The fight against Ibeh was the first fight he participated in since he drew with Andy Ruiz Jr. in August 2024.
The bout was on the undercard of Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson’s WBO super-lightweight title fight, which Stevenson won by unanimous decision.
Miller’s career hasn’t been without controversy. In 2019, he tested positive for banned substances ahead of a highly anticipated bout with Anthony Joshua. This resulted in the cancellation of the fight and a suspension from the sport.
Sometimes You Lose Your Hair But Win the Fight
Boxing fans tune in hoping for knockouts, upsets, and dramatic finishes. What they got on January 31 was all of that plus a flying hairpiece. Miller proved that sometimes the best moments in sports are the ones you can’t plan for. He came in wearing a wig, walked out a winner, and gave everyone a story they’ll be telling for years.
And if you can laugh about it afterward? That’s the real victory.
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