Boxer Jarrell Miller’s toupee knocked loose during Kingsley Ibeh fight

Jarrell "Big Baby" Miller had his hairpiece knocked askew during a fight at the weekend. Photo / YouTube

US boxer Jarrell Miller gave the phrase “let your hair down” new meaning after his toupee was knocked loose during a fight, a moment that has since gone viral.

The former heavyweight champion, who also fights under the moniker Big Baby, was fighting Kingsley Ibeh in the second round of an undercard match at New York’s Madison Square Garden at the weekend, when the offbeat incident occurred, according to the BBC.

Ibeh landed a series of quick punches that snapped Miller’s head back, causing the front of his hairpiece to lift and expose a large bald patch.

Video footage shows members of the audience initially failing to notice what had happened, before craning their necks for a closer look as Miller continued the round, the back of the toupee clinging on as the front flopped loose.

Miller later revealed in a post-match interview that he had been forced to wear a wig after an unfortunate hair product mix-up.

“I get to my mama’s house and I saw some shampoo bottles on the table,” he said.

“I shampooed and it was like ammonium bleach. I literally lost my hair like two days ago.

“So I called my manager and said, ‘Get me one of those manes’, and I slapped that on real quick.

“It’s funny, man. I’m a comedian and you’ve got to make fun of yourself.”

Miller eventually removed the hairpiece between rounds and tossed it to the crowd, including Australian former featherweight titleholder Skye Nicolson, who passed it around for photo opportunities.

Miller went on to win the bout by split decision and celebrated the win with a dance that included rubbing his exposed head.

The 37-year-old took to Instagram the following day, sharing an AI-generated video of himself driving a convertible down a country road while dressed in full boxing gear, gloves included, with his hairpiece flapping in the wind.

Fans flooded the post, captioned ”Hair today gONe tomorrow", with messages of support and humour.

“Hats off to you Champ! You won by a hair,” one wrote.

“Someone’s got toupee for this,” said another.

A third said Miller won “hair and square”.

“WHOOP HAIR IT IS!!” a fourth commenter added.

Miller had been due to fight Anthony Joshua at Madison Square Garden in 2019, but the bout was cancelled after Miller failed a drugs test.

Mexican fighter Andy Ruiz jnr went on to replace him, knocking out Joshua and claiming the unified heavyweight title.