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Former world champion Antonio Tarver is no longer returning to the ring on April 17 in Atlanta, according to ESPN.
The 52-year-old retired fighter was scheduled to face former UFC heavyweight champion, Frank Mir, in a boxing match.
Tarver vs. Mir was one of the undercard fights announced for the Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren pay-per-view.
However, Tarver was not cleared to compete by the Georgia Athletic & Entertainment Commission, per commission executive director Matt Woodruff.
According to Woodruff, Tarver was not approved for a license because of a state bylaw.
In order to be approved for a license, Woodruff explained that any competitor 50-years or older must have taken part in at least 10 pro fights in the last 10 years.
Tarver saw action only five times in the last 10 years and has been inactive for the last six years.
The new opponent being proposed for the fight is former IBF cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham, according to Mir’s team.
Woodruff cautions to ESPN that Cunningham’s approval for the fight is pending, as medicals need to be submitted.
Cunningham (29-9-1, 13 KOs) is only 44-years-old, which allows him to avoid the state’s bylaw. He’s been inactive since 2017 and has one victory in his last five fights.
Cunningham fought Tarver to a twelve round split draw in 2015. He’s only been stopped once, by current heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, which came in 2013. Cunningham dropped Fury in the second round of that fight.