Deontay Wilder is still his own biggest critic. But considering how far he's come in this latest rebuild phase, the former long-reigning heavyweight champion allowed himself some grace following his seventh-round stoppage win over Tyrrell Herndon on June 27.

Jarrell 'Big Baby' Miller, on the other hand, didn't give him a break.

"Deontay looked like a bag of wet dog s--t," Miller told Fight Hub TV. "Unfortunately, he did not look like his normal self."

Herndon (24-6, 15 KOs) was a significant step down in competition than what Wilder (44-4-1, 43 KOs) has become accustomed to over the past half-decade. Yet after being soundly beaten at the elite level of late, he clearly needed a softer touch to build confidence.

Consecutive defeats by Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang made Wilder, as well as the rest of the world, realise that his level of opposition needed to be tempered. Yet even against a journeyman who idolised him, Miller wasn't impressed by what he saw.

A portion of the boxing world is ambivalent. Some believe he looked as good as ever while others are convinced he should retire. Miller (26-1-2, 22 KOs) might be on the side of the latter, but that isn't stopping him from wanting to add Wilder to his own resume before then.

Miller wants a chance to prove his hands are as good as his words. First things first, the 36-year-old may have to first get past Jared Anderson (18-1, 15 KOs) before lining up a Wilder fight. Nothing is set in stone yet, though reports suggest discussions are ongoing.

Wilder meanwhile, hopes age really is nothing but a number. Before moving back into fights with the upper echelon at heavyweight, the former WBC titlist wants a few more tune-ups.

Miller, who withdrew from his proposed Fabio Wardley showdown last month through a shoulder injury sustained during training camp, hasn't boxed since pitching a 12-round majority draw against former world champion Andy Ruiz on a Riyadh Season bill in August.