As Fury, 29, prepares to lock horns with Sefer Seferi in his first bout since 2015, ‘The Gypsy King’ knows he will need leverage in his bid to face either Anthony Joshua or Deontay Wilder.
Joshua holds four belts, whilst Wilder has the WBC version – with Charr currently in possession of the WBA ‘regular’ belt previously held by David Haye, Alexander Povetkin, Lucas Browne and Luis Ortiz.
Since Wladimir Klitschko was bumped up to ‘Super’ champion, the strap has lost significance with the fans, although Fury feels it’s still a bonafide championship for him to target.
“People keep going on about this regular belt, but when Alexander Povetkin had it, he was the world champion and Russia had its first world heavyweight champion,” Fury told Manchester Evening News.
“When David Haye had it, it was a world title. Everyone since who’s had it, it’s been a world title. But since poor old Manuel Charr’s had it, it’s apparently not. That’s everyone’s opinion.
“Manuel Charr is a world heavyweight champion because if he isn’t, I’m going to erase Povetkin.
“I’m erasing off the world champion list if they’re erasing Manuel Charr.
“The WBA belt goes back a long way and as far as I’m concerned, the WBA Super title is a paper title made up in 2011 for Wladimir Klitschko.”
Promoter Frank Warren added: “Seferi went 10 rounds with Manuel Charr, who is now the WBA regular heavyweight champion.
“If Tyson stops Seferi – and I think he will – that will be better than the champion has done and I hope Charr will be there on Saturday night.”
Charr is pencilled in for a mandatory defense against the long-suffering Fres Oquendo this September, which gives Fury plenty of time to fight in a couple more warm-ups and challenging Charr in December.
First up is Seferi before Fury has another run out in the autumn.
