Manuel Charr Back With Or Without Lovejoy In May

Manuel Charr was finally looking to shake off the ring rust and made it known that he’d be in action against Christopher Lovejoy on May 15. The bout was set to take place in Hamburg, according to promoter EC Boxing.

The question now seems it will be against Lovejoy.

The current “Champion in Recess” of the WBA secondary title is once again stuck in limbo against noted promoter Don King as Lovejoy sent out earlier this week a cease and desist letter barring Lovejoy from participating in the contest.

“It is unconscionable, illegal, and unethical for you to participate in this May 15, 2021 bout or any bout without DKP’s expressed, written permission and consent,” the letter from King’s lawyer’s stated.

“If you have in fact signed to fight Charr as you proclaim and has been reported in these media reports, you have intentionally, willfully, and maliciously breached your exclusive, world-wide promotional agreement with DKP.”

The 37-year-old Lovejoy (19-0, 19 KOs) hadn’t fought any competition outside of Tijuana, Mexico, and hasn’t been there since stopping Misael Sanchez back n January 2020 before the pandemic took place. Lovejoy was on social and stated that he’s fighting one way or another.

THE DON HAS SPOKE ?? pic.twitter.com/0kdfpbMUpi

— Christopher The Don Lovejoy (@lovejoyboxing) April 19, 2021

This isn’t the first time that Charr (31-4, 17 KOs) has been blocked by King somehow.

Char was initially slated on the Don King card that took place in January. It later turned out to be an ongoing legal dispute as King, through the WBA stripped Charr of the title and demoted him to “Champion in Recess”. That allowed the vacant secondary belt to be won by Trevor Bryan over Bermane Stiverne by 11th round TKO back on January 29th.

Despite the blockade by King, Charr’s team is still hoping for the May 15th return in the ring.

“[W]e are still confident that Charr and Lovejoy will meet in the ring on May 15 and are willing to settle the situation with [Don King Productions],” Erol Ceylan, Charr’s promoter, stated on Thursday. “However, we are prepared to give a different opponent the chance to take on our guy if necessary.”

“We are not quite sure what Don King‘s intentions are at this stage,” wonders Ceylan. “Instead of making fights happen, he tries to sabotage them. First, he‘s getting Charr stripped off his WBA belt, and now this.”