Sofia, Bulgaria - On December 7, heavyweight veterans Kubrat Pulev and Mahmoud Charr will square off at the Arena Sofia in Sofia, Bulgaria, with the WBA Regular Heavyweight Title on the line. The bout marks the culmination of years of inactivity, controversies, and title confusion for both fighters, as well as the peculiar history of a belt that has long been a sideshow in the heavyweight division.

Kubrat Pulev (30-3, 16 KOs), the 43-year-old Bulgarian, returns to his home country for this high-stakes clash. Pulev is a seasoned professional who has fought some of the division’s best, including Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko. While he came up short in those marquee matchups, Pulev remains a formidable opponent with a strong technical style honed during an impressive amateur career. His most recent outing, a unanimous decision win in December 2022, showed flashes of the skill and resilience that have defined his career.

Mahmoud Charr (34-4, 20 KOs), 40, enters the ring as the WBA Regular Champion, a title he has held in name more than action. Charr’s reign began in 2017 with a victory over Alexander Ustinov, but he has fought only three times in the seven years since. His inactivity and the belt’s murky significance have made his championship status a topic of ridicule among boxing fans and analysts alike.

Despite his inactivity, Charr is determined to reestablish his relevance in the division. “Pulev is a great technical boxer, but he’s not strong mentally,” Charr said ahead of the fight. “When he gets under pressure, he stops. My plan is to make him quit and to shine like a diamond.”

The WBA Regular Heavyweight Title has a convoluted history. Originally created as a secondary title in 2011 to complement the WBA Super Title, it has been criticized as a "bogus" belt designed to generate additional sanctioning fees. Since its inception, the belt has been passed around in a series of controversial and forgettable fights.

Notable figures in the title’s odd history include Alexander Povetkin, who defended the belt against a string of unranked opponents, and Fres Oquendo, whose drawn-out legal battles for a title shot became a running joke in the sport. The belt has also seen a revolving door of champions, including Lucas Browne, Trevor Bryan, and Daniel Dubois, before landing back with Charr through a court ruling in 2023.

While the WBA Regular Title does not hold the prestige of the actual WBA belt currently held by Oleksandr Usyk, it still offers opportunities for the winner. For Pulev, a victory would add a title to his résumé and position him for a potential high-profile bout in 2025. For Charr, defending the belt successfully would validate his status as a titleholder and prolong his career.

Promoter Frank Warren expressed optimism about the matchup, saying, “This fight has everything—two seasoned veterans, the drama of the WBA Regular Title, and the passion of Bulgarian boxing fans.”

Charr’s last performance was a two-year-old victory over Christopher Lovejoy, a win that did little to silence his critics. Pulev, on the other hand, has remained more active and has consistently faced higher-quality opponents. Fighting in front of his home crowd, Pulev is expected to control the bout with his jab and technical skill.

However, Charr’s durability and determination could make the fight more competitive than it appears on paper. "Diamonds grow under pressure," Charr said. "This is my time to shine."

The Pulev vs. Charr bout may not be a marquee event, but it carries intrigue for boxing fans who appreciate the drama and history of the heavyweight division. Whether this fight serves as a career-defining moment or a final chapter for these aging warriors, it will undoubtedly add another layer to the complex narrative of the WBA Regular Heavyweight Title.

On December 7, two veterans will step into the ring in Sofia, Bulgaria, not just to claim a belt but to prove their relevance in a division that continues to evolve. For both Pulev and Charr, this fight is about legacy, pride, and the chance to shine once more under the bright lights of top heavyweight boxing.