Ex-UFC Champion Frank Mir Fights Antonio Tarver On Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren Undercard

Mandatory Credit: Dave Mandel - MMA Junkie & Jae C. Hong - Associated Press

Former UFC heavyweight champion, Bellator heavyweight contender, and recent Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship acquisition, Frank Mir is set to make his professional boxing debut on the undercard of Triller's promoted Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren event on April 17th. -- drawing former boxing world champion, Antonio 'The Magic Man' Tarver.

Mir, who has yet to box professionally will make his debut on the undercard of the event, which is currently expected to land at a venue in Atlanta, Georgia. Former multiple-time light heavyweight world champion and Olympic bronze medalist, Tarver will make his professional walk since a split draw against Steve Cunningham back in August of 2015. MMA Fighting reporters, Damon Martin and Steven Marrocco were first to report the news of the clash. 

Yet to make his debut under the BKFC banner, Mir's last appearance in combat sports came back at Bellator 231 in October of 2019 where he scored a second career win over Roy 'Big Country' Nelson via a unanimous decision triumph.

A former UFC heavyweight champion and a renowned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu player, the 2001 Pan-American Jiu-Jitsu World Championship gold medalist will turn 42-years-old in May, ten-years younger than knockout-ace, Tarver. 

Competing thirty-two times as a professional mixed martial artist, Mir established a 19-13 record, scoring notable victories over the likes of Pete Williams, Tank Abbott, Tim Sylvia, Brock Lesnar, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (x2), Cheick Kongo, Mirko Cro Cop, and Antonio Silva.

Orlando, Florida native, Tarver has held light heavyweight gold under major organizations such as the IBF, WBC, WBA, and IBO. 

Winning the bronze medal at the 1996 summer Olympic games, coincidently which also took place in Atlanta -- Tarver would go on to score a 31-6-1(1) record over the course of his thirty-nine fight, eighteen-year career. 

Holding notable wins over the likes of Reggie Johnson, Montell Griffin, Glen Johnson, and Danny Santiago to name a few -- Tarver also scored a pair of victories over recent returner, Roy Jones Jr. -- stopping the Pensacola favourite with a memorable knockout in a May 15th. 2004 immediate rematch for  WBA, WBC, IBO, IBA, championship spoils -- taking bragging-rights in their trilogy.

Headlining the event, polarizing YouTuber, the 2-0 Jake Paul meets with former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight champion, Ben Askren -- who like Mir, makes his professional boxing debut on the card.