Mahmoud Omeirat Charr[2] (Arabic: محمود عميرات شعار), previously known as Manuel Charr, is a Syrian-German professional boxer. He was awarded the World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight title (Regular version) in 2023. He held the same title from 2017 to 2021.

Mahmoud Charr
Born
Mahmoud Omeirat Charr

October 1984
Beirut, Lebanon
Nationality
  • German
  • Syrian
Other namesDiamond Boy
Children1
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height1.92 m (6 ft 3+12 in)[1]
Reach195 cm (77 in)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights38
Wins34
Wins by KO20
Losses4

Early life

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Mahmoud started his martial arts career with Thai boxing at the age of 17. Two years later he became the youngest ever German Champion in Muay Thai. In 2005 he became the German Champion and the European Champion in Thai-Boxing at the age of 19. Due to his track record in Thai-Boxing, in 2000 Mahmoud was invited to a training camp for professional boxers at the famous Max Schmeling Gym in Berlin. Here his professional boxing career started under the supervision of the famous German boxing coach Ulli Wegner.

Amateur career

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  • 2002 TeutoCup Champion (Germany)
  • 2003 District Champion (Germany)
  • 2004 Westfahlen Champion (Germany)
  • 2004 Western German Champion

Professional career

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After compiling a perfect record of 21-0, Charr fought WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko on September 8, 2012 in Moscow, Russia. Charr was knocked down in the second round with a right hook, and he lost the bout by fourth-round technical knockout when it was stopped due to a cut received as a result of Klitschko's punches. Charr strongly protested the stoppage but the decision remained the same, giving Charr the first defeat of his professional career.[3]

Charr defended his WBC International Silver heavyweight title against Yakup Saglam in Galaţi, Romania on February 22, 2013.[4]

He turned up to the post-fight press conference of the David Haye vs. Derek Chisora fight on 14 July 2012 in order to challenge the victorious Haye. Charr and Haye agreed to fight at Manchester Arena on 29 June 2013,[5] but on 14 May, Haye pulled out due to a hand injury sustained in training.[6] Haye went on to agree to fight undefeated Tyson Fury instead on 28 September, but that bout was also cancelled.[7]

Charr improved his record to 26-1 with wins over Oleksiy Mazikin, Dennis Bakhtov and Kevin Johnson, before challenging highly-ranked Alexander Povetkin on 30 May 2014 for the vacant WBC International title in Moscow, Russia. Charr lost the bout by seventh-round knockout, suffering his second career loss.[8]

Charr's fight against Povetkin was the first of five consecutive bouts that subsequently took place in Russia, the last of which was a brutal one-punch fifth-round knockout defeat to Mairis Breidis on 22 August 2015 in Grozny, Chechnya.[9]

After improving to 30-4, Charr faced Alexander Ustinov for the vacant WBA (Regular) title in Oberhausen, Germany on 25 November 2017, and won by unanimous decision.[10] Despite the "Regular" title being secondary to the WBA's "Super" title which at the time was held by Anthony Joshua, the victory nonetheless meant that Charr was the first German heavyweight world champion in 85 years.[11]

A few days before Charr was scheduled to defend his WBA (Regular) title against Fres Oquendo in September 2018, Charr tested positive for drostanolone and trenbolone, and as a result the fight was cancelled.[12]

In January 2021, Charr was stripped of his WBA (Regular) title due to inactivity.[13] More than 3 years since he last fought, Charr returned to the ring on 15 May 2021 and recorded his 32nd career victory, with a second-round knockout of undefeated Christopher Lovejoy.[14] Following extensive litigation with the WBA, Charr's title was restored on 31 August 2023 as part of a court settlement, and he was ordered to defend against Jarrell Miller by 14 October of that year, with the winner to face the next highest contender. This came just five days after the WBA eliminated the "regular" title in a consolidation bout that was part of the organization's efforts to reduce the number of champions per division.[15] The 14 October deadline came and went, the fight with Miller failing to materialize due to reported financial issues. As a result, the WBA granted Charr a 60-day extension to find a new opponent.[16]

Eventually, Charr was scheduled to fight Kubrat Pulev in Bulgaria on March 30, 2024. Charr tore his bicep in training and fight was postponed until September.[17]

Personal life

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In 2015, an altercation at a kebab shop in Essen, Germany led to a drive-by shooting which left Charr shot four times in the abdomen and forced to undergo emergency surgery that night to save his life. Charr was dining with rapper Kay One at the time of the incident, which occurred following an argument with an online troll who had been abusing the boxer for some weeks.[18] The perpetrator, whom Charr identified to police, turned himself in to the police.[19][20] Charr underwent double-hip replacement surgery in May 2017.[21]

Charr announced on social media[22] that on April 24, 2024 at 4 Am GMT, Mahmouds first son "Kabir Mahdi Charr" was born in the Kings College Hospital of Dubai.

Professional boxing record

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38 fights 34 wins 4 losses
By knockout 20 3
By decision 13 1
By disqualification 1 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
38 Win 34–4 Nuri Seferi TKO 2 (10), 2:56 21 Dec 2022 ECB Boxgym, Hamburg, Germany
37 Win 33–4 Nikola Milačić KO 3 (10), 1:21 28 May 2022 Die Bucht, Hamburg, Germany
36 Win 32–4 Christopher Lovejoy KO 2 (12), 1:09 15 May 2021 Box Gym, Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
35 Win 31–4 Alexander Ustinov UD 12 25 Nov 2017 König Pilsener Arena, Oberhausen, Germany Won vacant WBA (Regular) heavyweight title
34 Win 30–4 Sefer Seferi UD 10 17 Sep 2016 EWS Arena, Göppingen, Germany Won vacant WBA International heavyweight title
33 Win 29–4 Andrei Mazanik TKO 7 (8), 2:08 4 Jun 2016 Autohaus Duerkop, Kassel, Germany
32 Loss 28–4 Mairis Briedis KO 5 (10), 2:55 22 Aug 2015 Akhmat-Arena, Grozny, Russia
31 Win 28–3 Alex Leapai UD 10 22 May 2015 Olympic Indoor Arena, Moscow, Russia
30 Loss 27–3 Johann Duhaupas MD 10 10 Apr 2015 Olympic Indoor Arena, Moscow, Russia
29 Win 27–2 Michael Grant RTD 5 (10), 3:00 24 Oct 2014 Olympic Indoor Arena, Moscow, Russia
28 Loss 26–2 Alexander Povetkin KO 7 (12), 1:09 30 May 2014 Luzhniki, Moscow, Russia For vacant WBC International heavyweight title
27 Win 26–1 Kevin Johnson UD 10 12 Apr 2014 Telekom Dome, Bonn, Germany
26 Win 25–1 Dennis Bakhtov RTD 5 (12), 3:00 19 Oct 2013 Messehalle, Leipzig, Germany Retained WBC International Silver and WBC Mediterranean heavyweight titles;
Won vacant WBC CIS and Slovac Boxing Bureau (CISBB) heavyweight titles
25 Win 24–1 Oleksiy Mazikin KO 3 (12), 2:10 15 Jun 2013 Karl Eckel Halle, Hattersheim am Main, Germany Retained WBC Mediterranean heavyweight title
24 Win 23–1 Yakup Saglam RTD 2 (12), 3:00 22 Feb 2013 Galaţi Skating Rink, Galaţi, Romania Retained WBC International Silver heavyweight title
23 Win 22–1 Konstantin Airich KO 1 (12), 0:44 22 Dec 2012 Maritim Hotel, Cologne, Germany Won vacant WBC Mediterranean heavyweight title
22 Loss 21–1 Vitali Klitschko TKO 4 (12), 2:04 8 Sep 2012 Olympic Indoor Arena, Moscow, Russia For WBC heavyweight title
21 Win 21–0 Taras Bidenko UD 12 30 Mar 2012 Maritim Hotel, Cologne, Germany Retained WBC International Silver heavyweight title
20 Win 20–0 Marcelo Luiz Nascimento RTD 8 (12), 3:00 18 Nov 2011 Kugelbake-Halle, Cuxhaven, Germany Won vacant WBC International Silver heavyweight title
19 Win 19–0 Serdar Uysal DQ 1 (6), 1:28 3 Sep 2011 Kugelbake-Halle, Cuxhaven, Germany
18 Win 18–0 Danny Williams TKO 7 (8), 1:16 25 Jun 2011 Lanxess-Arena, Cologne, Germany
17 Win 17–0 Jonathan Pasi TKO 5 (8), 2:58 19 Feb 2011 Porsche Arena, Stuttgart, Germany
16 Win 16–0 Zack Page MD 8 4 Dec 2010 Sport Center, Schwerin, Germany
15 Win 15–0 Robert Hawkins RTD 5 (8), 3:00 19 Nov 2010 Universum Gym, Hamburg, Germany
14 Win 14–0 Owen Beck TKO 10 (10), 2:44 9 Jan 2010 Bordelandhalle, Magdeburg, Germany
13 Win 13–0 Sherman Williams UD 10 10 Oct 2009 Stadthalle, Rostock, Germany
12 Win 12–0 Ramon Hayes TKO 3 (8), 0:42 6 Jun 2009 Koenig Arena, Oberhausen, Germany
11 Win 11–0 Gbenga Oloukun KO 7 (8), 1:29 25 Apr 2009 König Palast, Krefeld, Germany
10 Win 10–0 Adnan Serin UD 6 31 May 2008 Burg-Waechter, Düsseldorf, Germany
9 Win 9–0 Edgars Kalnārs UD 4 19 Apr 2008 Bordelandhalle, Magdeburg, Germany
8 Win 8–0 Aleksandrs Selezens UD 4 5 Apr 2008 Burg-Waechter, Düsseldorf, Germany
7 Win 7–0 Pedro Carrion MD 8 13 May 2006 Stadthalle, Zwickau, Germany
6 Win 6–0 Radovan Kuca KO 1 (6), 1:35 8 Apr 2006 Saaltheater Geulen, Aachen, Germany
5 Win 5–0 Stefan Baumann TKO 1 (6), 0:38 28 Jan 2006 Tempodrom, Berlin, Germany
4 Win 4–0 Valentin Marinel KO 2 (4), 0:40 16 Jul 2005 Arena Nürnberger Versicherung, Nuremberg, Germany
3 Win 3–0 Özcan Cetinkaya UD 4 11 Jun 2005 Big Box, Kempten, Germany
2 Win 2–0 Nandor Kovacs TKO 2 (4) 28 May 2005 Lugner City, Vienna, Austria
1 Win 1–0 David Vicena UD 4 14 May 2005 Oberfrankenhalle, Bayreuth, Germany

Viewership

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International

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Date Fight Country Network Viewers Source
8 September 2012 Vitali Klitschko vs. Manuel Charr Germany RTL Television 8,750,000 [23]
Total viewership 8,750,000

References

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  1. ^ "BoxRec: Mahmoud Charr". boxrec.com. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Manuel Charr changes name back to Mahmoud, signs new promoter deal". WorldBoxingNews.com. 13 April 2019.
  3. ^ "Vitali Klitschko beats Manuel Charr in four rounds". www.bbc.co.uk. 8 September 2012.
  4. ^ "Alekseev Beats Wilson, Charr KO's Saglam, Hammer Wins - Boxing News". boxingscene.com. 22 February 2013.
  5. ^ "David Haye to fight Manuel Charr at Manchester Arena in June". www.bbc.co.uk. 28 April 2013.
  6. ^ "Haye withdraws from Charr fight". BBC Sport. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Boxing: Tyson Fury fight cancelled after David Haye is advised to". The Independent. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Alexander Povetkin vs. Manuel Charr - BoxRec". boxrec.com. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  9. ^ Sukachev, Alexey (22 August 2015). "Mairis Briedis With Brutal One Punch KO of Manuel Charr". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  10. ^ Stumberg, Patrick L. (25 November 2017). "Charr decisions Ustinov for vacant WBA title". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  11. ^ hermesauto (26 November 2017). "Boxing: Lebanon-born Charr beats long odds to end Germany's 85-year wait for a world heavyweight champion". The Straits Times. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Boxen: Positiver Dopingtest - WM-Kampf von Weltmeister Charr abgesagt". Spiegel Online. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  13. ^ "Charr stripped of WBA heavyweight title, Bryan vs. Stiverne for vacant belt". World Boxing News. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Mahmoud Charr KOs Christopher Lovejoy in curious WBA heavyweight title fight". Sky Sports. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Following a court settlement, Mahmoud Charr returns as regular champion". WBA Boxing. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  16. ^ "Euro News: Charr vs. Miller Off, Milan Prat, Metcalf vs. Baraou, More". WBA Boxing. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  17. ^ Persson, Per-Ake (22 March 2024). "Injured Mahamoud Charr Out Against Kubrat Pulev, But Fight Will Still Happen". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  18. ^ Gigney, George (September 2015). "Manuel Charr hospitalised after being shot - Boxing News". www.boxingnewsonline.net. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  19. ^ "Suspect in shooting of German boxer Manuel Charr turns himself in". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  20. ^ "Germany's boxing star Manuel Charr shot in snack bar". Deccan Chronicle. 3 September 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  21. ^ Random Hits (24 November 2017). "Alexander Ustinov vs Manuel Charr Lands on BoxNation". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  22. ^ Charr, Mahmoud (24 April 2024). "Twitter".
  23. ^ "Ceylan mäßig, Klitschko schwächer als zuletzt" (in German). Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
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Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
New title WBC International Silver
heavyweight champion

18 November 2011 – July 2014
Vacant
Title next held by
Edmund Gerber
Vacant
Title next held by
Andrzej Wawrzyk
WBC Baltic
heavyweight champion

21 December 2012 – June 2013
Vacant
Title next held by
Artur Szpilka
Vacant
Title last held by
Erkan Teper
WBC Mediterranean
heavyweight champion

21 December 2012 – March 2014
Vacant
Title next held by
Agit Kabayel
Vacant
Title last held by
Andrzej Wawrzyk
WBC CIS & Slovac Boxing Bureau (CISBB)
heavyweight champion

19 October 2013 – July 2015
Vacant
Title next held by
Apti Davtaev
Vacant
Title next held by
Eugene Hill
WBA International
heavyweight champion

17 September 2016 – December 2017
Vacant
Title next held by
Johann Duhaupas
World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Ruslan Chagaev
WBA heavyweight champion
Regular title

25 November 2017 – 29 January 2021
Status changed
Vacant
Title next held by
Trevor Bryan
Vacant
Title last held by
Daniel Dubois
WBA heavyweight champion
Regular title

31 August 2023 – present
Incumbent
Honorary boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Ruslan Chagaev
WBA heavyweight champion in recess
Regular title

29 January 2021 – 3 January 2022
Stripped
Vacant