On April 17 in Atlanta, YouTube sensation Jake Paul will square off against MMA and wrestling star Ben Askren. Before that bout takes place, another MMA star will face off against a boxing legend in their own right. Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir will go face-to-face against former WBA, WBC, IBF, and IBO world champion Antonio Tarver in the undercard. The 41-year old sent out a tweet to confirm his place on the fight card against the 52-year old multiple world champion boxer.
I am a competitor. I have been all my life.
I take on challenges to grow and better myself as a person.
I have always wanted to test myself in the boxing ring so when this opportunity arose I jumped on it.
See you April 17th @AntonioTarver #MirTarver— Frank Mir (@thefrankmir) February 25, 2021
Mir’s last fight was back in October 2019 at Bellator 231 where he defeated fellow former UFC heavyweight Roy Nelson by decision. Tarver last fought in August 2015 where he battled to a split draw against Steve Cunningham. The fight will be at ten rounds.
According to SBNation, Mir also took the time to speak on the Phone Booth Fighting Podcast as he compares this upcoming fight to his UFC debut.
“It’s very reminiscent of my first UFC fight,” Mir said, per MMA Fighting. “I think I’m obviously being brought in on the B-side. I’m known in MMA more for my grappling than my striking, so I think it’s something where I bring a name, but maybe not dangerous to him on the surface. So hopefully, I’ll train hard and prove them wrong. I’m not going to make any illusions about it. This is probably a safe warmup fight in their minds in what their corners are looking at.”
In MMA, Mir holds memorable victories over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Brock Lesnar, and Tim Sylvia, who he defeated to secure the heavyweight title in 2004. As for Tarver, he is best remembered for having an epic boxing trilogy against fellow legend Roy Jones Jr. where he won two out of three matches. The fight is in Atlanta, but the venue is undisclosed as of now.
