Mahmoud Charr-Trevor Bryan goes to May 17th purse bid

Two of the WBA’s four heavyweight belts could be consolidated later this year, as regular champion Mahmoud Charr and interim champion Trevor Bryan are scheduled for a May 17th purse bid in Panama City should they fail to make a deal in the next 10 days. The minimum bid is an eyebrow-raising $1,000,000, split 75-25 between Charr and Bryan.

Charr (31-4, 17 KO) has had a profoundly stupid reign. He hasn’t fought since beating Alexander Ustinov for the vacant belt in 2017, as his mandated defense against Fres Oquendo fell through due to Charr’s failed drug test, then got rebooked when he successfully appealed, then fell through again when Oquendo decided not to sign the fight contract.

Bryan (20-0, 14 KO) is by my reckoning the least-deserving champion in the sport, easily surpassing Charles Martin’s legendary mediocrity. Despite his previous two wins coming over opponents with a combined record of 4-44, the WBA decided to call his bout with BJ Flores an interim title fight for what I can only assume to be sh*ts and giggles. Bryan ultimately dropped Flores six times on his way to a fourth-round finish.

Can’t wait for them to crown a new interim champion five days after this fight happens.