Charr RCM

Lebanese Boxing Mystery: Manuel Charr Wins WBA World Heavyweight Title

By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent

*Photo Credit:  Alliance/DPA/Guido Kirschner

 Lebanon has only two known professional boxers, Ahmad Kaddour and Manuel Charr

 Tripoli, Lebanon(November 26th, 2017)– Kaddour, now living in Denmark, Super welterweight boxer Kaddour, 27-2-1, born on January 1, 1982, in Tripoli, Lebanon, fled with his parents to Europe during the 1982 Lebanon Wart. Kaddour has been inactive since 2013, with rumors of a comeback waiting almost five years. Heavyweight boxer Charr, 31-4, born October 10, 1984 in Beirut, Lebanon, became a Muay Thai fighter in Germany, winning the German and European Muay Thai championships at age 19, before turning to boxing. In 2015, Charr got shot four times, and recently underwent a double hip replacement, has become Lebanon’s first world heavyweight champion title holder. Charr is also the first German based heavyweight to win a share of the world heavyweight title since Max Schmeling did it in 1930.

On Saturday, November 25, 2017, Charr won the vacant World Boxing Association World Heavyweight title by 12 round unanimous decision over 34-1 Alexander Ustinov.  The WBA Regular title, vacated by Lucas Browne, who won in it 2016 by stopping Ruslan Chagaev, was supposed to be contested between Shannon Briggs and Fres Oquendo but fell through. Ruslan Chagaev, Luis Ortiz, David Haye, and Alexander Povetkin are among those still available fighters who have held the WBA world title belt in recent years. Former WBA World Cruiserweight champion Guillermo Jones recently won the WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight title. Any of these names could be in the mix for Charr. Maybe even Wladimir Klitschko if he makes a comeback.

Charr is a battle-worn survivor, not just of Lebanon, but of life. Who shot him and why? What happened to Charr two years ago are as mysterious as his career. Much like the fate of his own country, Lebanon, Charr the boxer, who has been hot and cold in the ring and out, remains somewhat of a boxing mystery.

Share

COMMENTS

COMMENTS

Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
Robert is the Head Boxing Correspondent for Real Combat Media Boxing since 2013. Robert is also a photographer and ringside reporter for the RCM Tri State region which includes NJ, NY and PA. Robert conducts exclusive interviews, provides historical boxing articles and provides editorial ringside coverage of major boxing events. You can contact or follow Robert on Facebook and by email at [email protected].