The WBA has canceled a purse bid for a WBA "Regular" heavyweight title bout between Manuel Charr and Trevor Bryan after both sides reached a deal.
The governing body announced that the two heavyweights have come to terms on a deal that would have both men fight for the secondary title. No date or venue was revealed but the WBA did say that both sides were expected to reveal those details within 20 days.
Initially, the purse bid was going to take place on May 17 but it was postponed to May 28 after both sides were nearing a deal. The original purse bid was called after it was revealed that Anthony Joshua, who holds the WBA “Super” version of the heavyweight title, would be fighting Andy Ruiz Jr. on June 1.
Joshua was supposed to face Jarrell Miller on June 1 at Madison Square Garden, but after Miller failed multiple drug tests conducted in March, Joshua had to go and find another opponent. Charr claimed that there were some early negotiations, but it eventually fell through. Bryan’s promoter Don King had publicly lobbied for his fighter to face Joshua.
Charr won the “Regular” title in November 2017 when he defeated Alexander Ustinov in Germany. Charr was supposed to defend his title against mandatory challenger Fres Oquendo late last year, but Charr failed a drug test and was suspended by the WBA. Charr has since then served his suspension and is still able to keep his title.
Bryan has held the interim title since last August when stopped BJ Flores in the fourth round, but has yet to fight since his title win. The 29-year-old Bryan has won all 20 of his pro bouts.
