And not just because stubborn underdog Kingsley Ibeh made him work harder for his victory than the brash Brooklyn native expected Saturday night. The controversial heavyweight contender’s perfectly sculpted hairpiece came apart as he tried to fend off Ibeh late in the second round of a 10-round fight he narrowly won by split decision on “The Ring 6” undercard.

Judges Frank Lombardi (97-93) and Don Trella (97-93) scored for Miller (27-1-2, 22 KOs). Judge Kevin Morgan credited Ibeh (16-3-1, 14 KOs) with a 96-94 win.

With the top of his head oddly exposed, Miller and Ibeh battled on the inside for the ensuing eight rounds. Neither fighter ever seemed hurt, despite continually landing to each other’s head and body until the final bell sounded.

Though they landed a lot of punches, nothing compared with Ibeh’s left hand hilariously flipping up the front of Miller’s hairpiece late in the second round. Well aware of what happened, a smiling Miller tore it off and tossed it into the crowd before the third round began.

The embarrassing moment didn’t impact Miller’s performance. The veteran volume puncher continuously threw short shots with varying effectiveness, but enough to convince two of the judges he won.

Ibeh entered the ring with a knockout ratio of 82 percent, yet he couldn’t hurt Miller.

Miller, 37, fought at Madison Square Garden 6½ years after he was supposed to challenge then-undefeated, unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua at “The Mecca of Boxing.” He tested positive for four performance-enhancing drugs and was replaced on approximately five weeks’ notice by Andy Ruiz, who upset Joshua by seventh-round TKO.

Miller also ended a 17-month layoff. He hadn’t boxed since his 12-round majority draw with Ruiz in August 2024.

Ibeh, 32, had won 11 straight fights. The Nigerian-born, Phoenix-based Ibeh hadn’t lost since Jared Anderson knocked him out in the sixth round in February 2021 bout.