Three days after revealing the location for Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren on April 17th, Triller has unveiled the undercard, which includes a pair of previously known matchups and a bizarre freak fight.
The only “respectable” match to be found pits former unified super lightweight champion Regis Prograis (25-1, 21 KO) against Ukrainian slugger Ivan Redkach (23-5-1, 18 KO). Prograis returned to the win column last October with a dominant thrashing of Juan Heraldez, though he missed weight, while Redkach followed a noteworthy upset knockout of Devon Alexander by losing to Danny Garcia and biting him in the process.
“I’m very excited to be fighting on this card,” said Prograis. “It’s a whole different type of fan base and I plan on giving the fans a night to remember. Triller Fight Club has been changing the game and I’m bringing my A-game to help progress this new platform.”
“I am built differently – a champion, refusing to take anything but a win,” said Redkach. “I will not stop until I have my victory and there is nothing that will get in my way. My mindset separates me from the rest.”
The other known commodity sees 52-year-old former light heavyweight champ Antonio Tarver (31-6-1, 22 KO) end a 5.5-year layoff against 41-year-old onetime UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir. Tarver’s shot and Mir’s never been a quality boxer.
“I am a competitor. I have been all my life,” said Mir. “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. I will prove that MMA training in fact makes us the best boxers, and I stand for all MMA fans and fighters. This isn’t just a boxing match, this is the one that will finally prove the skill and dedication of all MMA fighters.”
“It’s been a long-time coming. 52 is 52,” said Tarver. “Facts are facts. As pound for pound best heavyweight of my time I am bringing it. Mir is a great fighter but I hope he’s training hard because I’m coming at him like a freight train, and one that is unstoppable.”
In addition, English mogul Joe Fournier (8-0, 8 KO) fights Colombian reggaeton artist Reykon (0-0, 0 KO). Fournier’s fought absolutely nobody as a professional, beating just one opponent with a winning record; his last four foes were a combined 2-40.
“I’ll give it to Reykon he’s a really brave man but also a really stupid one. April 17th he’s really going to understand why picking a bar fight with me was about as good of a decision as those stupid tattoos that he thinks make him look tough,” Fournier said. “Anyway don’t blink as I’ll be surprised if he can handle my power for more than one minute! I’m more worried about the guest list for my after party at Cheetahs.”
The event will also “spotlight several prominent musical acts and commentators.”