In a bizarre and dramatic call-out, heavyweight boxer Mahmoud Charr has challenged Tyson Fury to prove he is the true "king" of the division, confronting the Brit with a lion by his side. Charr, who miraculously survived a drive-by shooting, released a video taunting Fury, demanding he honour a promised fight.
The Lion-Walking Challenge to the Gypsy King
Mahmoud Charr, the Lebanese-born German heavyweight, posted a video where he is seen walking a lion on a leash. Addressing Fury directly, he declared, "Tyson Fury, the Arab king, has arrived." He challenged Fury to stop talking and put pen to paper, shouting, "Take the challenge. I’m coming to the UK. I’m ready to punch your face, man. Don’t talk too much, sign the paper. You promised the people." This stunt marks the latest escalation in a long-running social media feud between the two fighters.
Fury's Comeback and Charr's Incredible Survival Story
The challenge comes as Tyson Fury, 37, trains for a ring return after announcing his retirement in January last year following consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, 38. The two-time world champion is plotting his comeback path.
For Charr, the call-out is another chapter in a life marked by extreme adversity. The 41-year-old boxer is fortunate to be alive after being targeted in a drive-by shooting at a kebab shop in Essen, Western Germany. The attack, which occurred after Charr agreed to confront an online troll in person, left him needing two hip replacement surgeries. His assailant, Youssef Hassan, was sentenced to five years in prison.
Defying all odds, Charr made an incredible return to the ring just nine months after the shooting. His most recent fight was a loss to 44-year-old Kubrat Pulev in December 2024. Despite this, he has won five of his last bouts and once held the WBA's secondary world title.
A Fighter With No Fear
Charr's resilience is legendary. In a 2022 interview with SunSport, he revealed his mindset, stating, "I am not afraid of anyone. Fear is a feeling and feelings can be controlled. Fear exists only in your mind." This philosophy has carried him through near-fatal violence and major surgeries.
His message to Fury is underscored by this toughness. "Two shots can’t stop me, two new hip operations can’t stop me. Who is he to stop me?" Charr asserted, referencing his own harrowing experiences. Whether this audacious lion-walking challenge will be enough to lure Fury into a real fight remains the big question in the heavyweight boxing scene.
