MVPW02: Raquel Miller gets judges’ nod in competitive firefight
Raquel Miller started boxing at 24 but found success, winning a silver medal at the 2012 World Championships, multiple national titles, and serving as an alternate for the US at the 2012 Olympics. This marks Miller’s first fight in three years, enduring several hardships, including the passing of her father, during that time. A former WBA interim super lightweight champion, Miller last fought in March 2023, scoring a first-round knockout of Angie Paola Rocha.
Adriana Dos Santos Araujo also had a decorated amateur career, becoming Brazil’s first Olympic medal winner in boxing, while also adding seven Pan-American titles to her resume. She competed in a WBC title fight in 2020 against Chantelle Cameron; however, she was ineligible to win the title due to missing weight and lost the bout. Araujo last fought in November 2024, being defeated by Mary Casamanna.
ROUND 1
Miller goes to take the center, working jabs to the body. Uppercut by Miller. Araujo goes to pressure, but Miller rips to the body again. Straights land for both women. Left hook by Miller. Inside shots by Araujo. Left hand by Araujo. Left hand from Miller. Araujo with a jab. Miller lands a combination. Right hand by Miller. Both land overhands. Left to the body by Miller. Miller lands inside. Left hand from Miller again.
ROUND 2
Both throwing powerful shots to the body. Left hand from Araujo lands on Miller’s body and Miller is SEATED! Miller quickly gets up, but that’s the power of Araujo. First time Miller’s been knocked down. Body shots from both women. Left uppercut by Araujo. Left hook by Araujo, and Miller answers with a one-two. Miller avoids Araujo trying to corner her. Right hand by Miller. Left from Araujo. Araujo with a short right cross. And again, landing on Miller’s chin! Miller with a right hand.
ROUND 3
Right hand from Miller to the head of Araujo. Miller blocks a body shot. Miller trying to get inside, trying to pressure with her jab. One-two by Miller, but Araujo shakes her head. Jabs from Miller, straights by Araujo. Araujo misses a hook, and Miller lands a left. Body shots by both women. Combination from Miller. Uppercut by Miller. Araujo with a right hand. Miller misses a right hand. Araujo gets inside, and Miller lands a couple of right hands before the bell.
ROUND 4
Araujo tries to pressure and take back control. A combination from Miller. Another combination from Miller as she goes inside. Right hand by Miller. Left hand by Miller. Left hand by Araujo. Left hand by Miller. Right hand to the body by Miller. Right hand by Miller, but she’s stepped back from an Araujo counter. Miller comes back. Araujo lands on the body. Miller with a combination. Araujo with one of her own. Body shots from both women. Araujo goes down but it’s ruled a push.
ROUND 5
Araujo landing on the body. Miller lands a combination. Now we get some dirty boxing before the ref separates. The two get back in close before separating. Miller lands with a left. Combination by Miller. Araujo with a strong left hand. One-two by Araujo. Miller with a quick combination to counter Araujo’s uppercut. Araujo rips to the body a couple of times in the clinch before the round’s end.
ROUND 6
Combinations from both women. Left hook by Araujo. Miller with a couple of strong right hands. Both women landing here. Araujo with a couple of hooks before a clinch. Right hand from Miller. Left hand by Miller. Another clinch as the two are in the center. Both women land left hands and combinations. Araujo lands on the body. One-two by Miller before another clinch. Left hand by Miller, and Araujo responds in kind. Miller lands a left.
OFFICIAL RESULT
Raquel Miller def. Adriana Dos Santos Araujo via unanimous decision (58-55, 57-56 x2)
