Mahmoud Charr says he is set to open talks with Andy Ruiz Jr. about the possibility of the two doing battle for the former’s WBA "regular" heavyweight championship.
Charr (31-4, 17 KOs) won the title in November 2017 with a unanimous decision win against Russia’s Alexander Ustinov in Oberhausen. He hasn’t competed since, with an attempted return to the ring in 2018 against Fres Oquendo scrapped after Charr, 35, tested positive for two banned substances.
That drought could finally come to an end after three years if talks with Ruiz (33-2, 22 KOs), last in action in December when he lost the world titles back to Anthony Joshua, prove productive.
Ruiz had been in “positive” negotiations with Chris Arreola, but Charr remains confident that he can get there first thanks to 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's advisor]," Charr told Sky Sports. "He works very close to Al Haymon."
Charr continued: "Erol 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, do 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, and purse bids were held in March before the entire sport ground to a halt thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.
Charr is now confident the WBA will be okay with him fighting Ruiz instead.
He explained: "No-one can stand in the way, because I'm world champion and he's top five. He's number four."