BoxRec

"Mahmoud Charr set to open talks with Andy Ruiz Jr about potential WBA 'regular' heavyweight title fight"

Mahmoud Charr has revealed that he is set to open talks with Andy Ruiz Jr about a potential WBA 'regular' heavyweight title fight this year.

The Germany-based Syrian hopes to finally defend the WBA belt he won in November 2017 against Ruiz Jr, who is yet to name an opponent after Anthony Joshua ended his world title reign with a points defeat in their December rematch.

Ruiz Jr had been in 'positive' negotiations with fellow Californian Chris Arreola, but Charr is optimistic that a deal can be agreed with Ruiz Jr through his new promoter Erol Ceylan and manager Christian Jäger.

"I hope it's serious, because I talk to my promoter Erol Ceylan, and his partner is Al Haymon [Ruiz Jr's advisor]," Charr told Sky Sports. "He works very close to Al Haymon."

Asked about negotiations, Charr said: "Erol Ceylan is right now in Turkey. He will fly next week to the USA to talk personally to these people and I hope he can make this fight happen.

"If any opponent gives you a chance for the world title fight, you say no or do you say yes? Make this fight happen, I'm ready for you. If you want, do this fight. I will risk my belt. I don't need an easy fight. Fight me."

The WBA had ordered Charr to face WBA 'interim' champion Trevor Bryan, but a fight is yet to materialise after purse bids were held in March and the 35-year-old does not expect the governing body to prevent a fight with Ruiz Jr.

Charr said: "No-one can stand in the way, because I'm world champion and he's top five. He's No 4.

"I hope this fight will be in the US, or in Mexico, or UK."

Thoughts?

I suppose that Andy Ruiz could use this as a tuneup fight and give Charr 100k for his participation but he could also just buy some meaningless belt from some boxingorg himself if those things truely are so important.

Personally-speaking, if I was wearing Al Haymon’s shoes, I’d use Chris Arreola as Andy Ruiz Jr’s comeback opponent (both being durable fleshy Californian-Mexican heavyweights with crowd-pleasing fighting styles).

However, Charr possesses a title (albeit a meaningless one), is also aligned with Al Haymon and hasn’t been beaten for five years (even though, by the time he faces Ruiz Jr., he would have only had one bout in four years).

It’s a tricky one, because it's a no-win situation… Andy Ruiz Jr. needs time to regain his fitness, lose weight and become accustomed to his new training team.

So it’s entirely sensible for him to have an easy ring-rust clearing comeback fight. Most fight fans would disagree though, because they usually dislike stay-busy bouts.

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑05 Aug 2020, 05:24 Personally-speaking, if I was wearing Al Haymon’s shoes

Man, wouldn't it be awesome to get that close to the gawd himself. To actually have your feet where his have been. It's a dream for so many of the great man's warriors., and rightfully so

Ya, the all Mexi-American blubber boi bout with Andy and Chris makes sense doesnt it

I have a feeling Ruiz would hold up the Regular belt just as much as Charr is

joshj909 wrote: ↑05 Aug 2020, 14:07 I have a feeling Ruiz would hold up the Regular belt just as much as Charr is

Might need to gouge out an extra hole in the strap.

Goodness gracious me, is Charr actually going to engage in a professional boxing match?

It's been that long since he last fought that he was called something else and he had his original hip joints.

White smoke will billow from the Sistine Chapel when M Charr steps into a boxing ring next.

It has been years since his last match and I hope they do this. Ruiz will smoke him.