UFC legend Frank Mir beaten by ex-boxing champion Steve Cunningham on Jake Paul vs Ben Askren undercard
UFC legend Frank Mir was beaten by Steve Cunningham on Jake Paul’s undercard.
The former cruiserweight boxing champion welcomed the ex-UFC star to the ring as part of a crossover attraction on Triller’s ‘Fight Club’.
Mir, 41, was due to face American great Antonio Tarver, 52, but the veteran was not cleared to make his comeback.
Instead, Cunningham, 44, who last fought in 2017, filled in as a replacement.
And the one-time IBF titleist did not have many problems outboxing Mir – making his ring debut – over six rounds.
Cunningham is most recognisable among British fans for his 2013 fight with Tyson Fury, 32, having dropped but lost to the Gypsy King.
And despite his four-year hiatus from the ring, Cunningham revealed he was preparing for the fight in the same way he did before fighting Fury.
He said: “He’s competed at a high level in the UFC, and that itself makes him prepared for our fight
“He’s a warrior and a champion. For anybody who thinks this is easy or that I’m going to breeze through him, I don’t think like that.
“In the words of my great late trainer Brother Naazim [Richardson,] ‘you take everybody seriously.’
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“That’s Tyson Fury right there. I’m about to fight Tyson Fury again. That’s the mindset that I’m going through.”
Despite filling in for Tarver at the last minute, Cunningham revealed he found the comeback easier than expected.
He said: “For me, the process is simple. I’m a two-time world champion. I’m always in the gym. I’m always in shape.
“That’s the goal — to die at 100 years old in shape. You buckle down, go to the gym, train hard and push.
“Even short notice, it’s just a few notches. Adjustments here and there, we’re ready.
“A lot of people have been saying, ‘I’m retired.’ I haven’t retired. I still want to fight a few times before I retire and pass the torch to my children.”