Georgia Commission Denies Antonio Tarver License to Box Frank Mir on April 17

If Frank Mir is going to showcase his skills in the Sweet Science on April 17, it won’t be against Antonio Tarver.

The Georgia Athletic Commission denied Tarver a license to fight Mir on the undercard of the Triller Promotions event that is headlined by a boxing match between former Bellator champion Ben Askren and social media personality Jake Paul. ESPN was first to report the news.

According to commission executive director Steve Woodruff, Tarver was denied a license because state bylaws dictate that anyone 50 or older must have 10 professional fights on their record with in the last 10 years, "including at least four professional matches or contests of boxing in the immediately preceding four years.” The 52-year-old Tarver has fought just five times in 10 years and not at all in the past six. Tarver won multiple champions at light heavyweight over the course of his career while compiling a 31-6-1 record.

Triller has proposed former IBF cruiserweight champion Steve Cunningham as a replacement opponent for Mir. The 44-year-old Cunningham has not fought since losing to Andrew Tabiti in August 2017. The new bout is still pending until Cunningham submits medicals to the commission.

Mir, 41, will be making his pro boxing debut if the new bout holds up. The former UFC heavyweight champion last competed in MMA in October 2019, when he snapped a four-bout losing streak with a unanimous decision over Roy Nelson at Bellator 231.