1. Overview
Mahmoud Omeirat Charr, a Syrian-German professional boxer previously known as Manuel Charr, has carved out a resilient career marked by significant achievements and notable challenges. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Charr's early life was shaped by his family's displacement due to the Lebanese Civil War and their subsequent migration to Germany. He began his journey in martial arts at age 17, achieving success in Muay Thai and Thai boxing as a German and European champion before transitioning to professional boxing.
Charr's professional boxing career, which began in 2005, saw him rise through the ranks, accumulating various regional titles. His career reached a pinnacle when he held the WBA heavyweight title (Regular version) twice, first from 2017 to 2021 and again from 2023 to 2024. His tenure as champion, however, was also characterized by controversy, including a positive doping test, a period of inactivity that led to his title being stripped, and subsequent legal battles to reclaim it. Outside the ring, Charr has faced severe personal challenges, including a life-threatening shooting incident in 2015 and major hip surgery. Despite these adversities, Charr has consistently demonstrated determination and a commitment to his sport.
2. Early Life and Background
Mahmoud Omeirat Charr was born on October 10, 1984, in Beirut, Lebanon. His family's origins are rooted in the Middle East, with his father being Syrian and his mother Lebanese. Charr spent his early childhood in Beirut. In 1989, his mother, along with six of her eight children, fled to Germany, seeking refuge from the ongoing Lebanese Civil War, which had claimed his father's life. This early experience of displacement and loss profoundly shaped Charr's formative years. He grew up in Germany, which provided the environment for his subsequent pursuits in sports.
2.1. Martial Arts and Amateur Career
Charr began his martial arts journey at the age of 17, focusing on Muay Thai and Thai boxing. He quickly distinguished himself in these disciplines, demonstrating remarkable talent and dedication. Within two years of starting, he became the youngest ever German Champion in Muay Thai. By 2005, at the age of 19, Charr had achieved further significant success, becoming the German Champion and the European Champion in Thai-Boxing. He also secured a European title in kickboxing.
Parallel to his Thai boxing career, Charr also engaged in amateur boxing. His amateur boxing record included several German national and regional titles, such as the 2002 TeutoCup Champion, 2003 District Champion, 2004 Westfahlen Champion, and 2004 Western German Champion. His impressive track record in martial arts, particularly his prowess in Thai boxing, brought him to the attention of prominent figures in the boxing world. In 2000, he was invited to a training camp for professional boxers at the renowned Max Schmeling Gym in Berlin. It was there that his professional boxing career began under the guidance of the celebrated German boxing coach, Ulli Wegner, and he later signed with Sauerland Event.
3. Professional Boxing Career
Mahmoud Charr's professional boxing career commenced in 2005, marking the beginning of a journey that would see him compete at the highest levels of the sport. His development was characterized by a steady progression through various regional titles and challenging bouts against top contenders.
3.1. Debut and Early Success
Charr made his professional boxing debut on May 14, 2005, securing a victory by unanimous decision over David Vicena in a four-round bout held in Bayreuth, Germany. This win initiated an impressive undefeated streak, as he amassed 21 consecutive victories. During this early phase of his career, Charr demonstrated his potential by securing several regional titles. On November 18, 2011, he won the vacant WBC International Silver Heavyweight title by defeating Marcelo Luiz Nascimento via corner retirement in the eighth round. He successfully defended this title against Taras Bidenko on March 30, 2012, in Cologne, Germany, winning by unanimous decision. These early successes established his presence as a rising force in the heavyweight division.
3.2. Key Fights and Title Challenges
Charr's career was defined by several significant bouts that tested his capabilities and brought him into the international spotlight.
One of his most notable early challenges came on September 8, 2012, when he faced Vitali Klitschko for the WBC heavyweight title in Moscow, Russia. Charr was knocked down in the second round and ultimately lost the fight by fourth-round technical knockout due to a cut sustained from Klitschko's punches. Charr strongly protested the stoppage, but the decision stood, marking the first defeat of his professional career. This high-profile match garnered significant viewership, with 8.75 million people in Germany tuning in on RTL Television. Following this fight, Klitschko retired from boxing to pursue a political career, running for the Ukrainian parliament.
In 2012, Charr publicly challenged David Haye following Haye's fight against Dereck Chisora on July 14. A bout between Charr and Haye was subsequently agreed upon for June 29, 2013, at the Manchester Arena. However, the fight was ultimately cancelled on May 14, 2013, when Haye withdrew due to a hand injury sustained during training. Haye later attempted to arrange a fight with Tyson Fury, which also failed to materialize.
Charr continued to build his record, securing wins against opponents such as Oleksiy Mazikin, Dennis Bakhtov, and Kevin Johnson, improving his record to 26-1. On May 30, 2014, he challenged the highly-ranked Alexander Povetkin for the vacant WBC International title in Moscow, Russia, but suffered his second career loss via seventh-round knockout. This fight against Povetkin marked the first of five consecutive bouts for Charr that took place in Russia. His period in Russia concluded with a brutal one-punch fifth-round knockout defeat to Mairis Briedis on August 22, 2015, in Grozny, Chechnya.
3.3. WBA Heavyweight Championship Reign
After improving his professional record to 30 wins and 4 losses, Mahmoud Charr faced Alexander Ustinov for the vacant WBA (Regular) heavyweight title on November 25, 2017, in Oberhausen, Germany. Charr secured the victory by unanimous decision, making him the first German heavyweight world champion in 85 years, since Max Schmeling.
However, his reign soon encountered significant controversy. A few days before his scheduled title defense against Fres Oquendo in September 2018, Charr tested positive for two anabolic steroids, drostanolone and trenbolone, in a doping test conducted on August 31. This positive result led to the cancellation of the fight. The WBA initially issued a six-month suspension to Charr but decided not to strip him of his title. This decision was based on a procedural error during the B sample testing, as Charr's representative was not present as required by regulations.
In January 2019, the WBA lifted Charr's suspension and ordered him to face Fres Oquendo in a mandatory defense within 60 days, with the winner mandated to fight the victor of a bout between interim champion Trevor Bryan and Jarrell Miller. However, the fight with Oquendo was canceled in February 2019 because Oquendo failed to sign the fight contract by the deadline. Negotiations for a title unification bout with interim champion Trevor Bryan also failed to materialize. On March 2, 2020, a purse bid for the Charr-Bryan fight was won by Don King Productions with a bid of 2.00 M USD, outbidding Charr's team's bid of 1.20 M USD.
Despite the legal and organizational efforts, Charr was stripped of his WBA (Regular) title on January 29, 2021, due to prolonged inactivity, having not fought for approximately three years and two months since his title win. Additionally, his inability to secure a US visa for the planned fight against Bryan contributed to this decision. He was then designated as the "WBA Heavyweight Champion in Recess." On January 3, 2022, Charr was further stripped of his "Champion in Recess" status. In August 2021, Charr initiated a multi-million dollar lawsuit in a U.S. District Court, seeking 4.58 M USD in damages from the WBA, its president Gilberto Jesus Mendoza Jr., Don King, and other related entities.
Following extensive litigation with the WBA, Charr's WBA (Regular) title was controversially restored to him on August 31, 2023, as part of a court settlement. This restoration occurred just five days after the WBA had stated its intent to eliminate the "Regular" title in an effort to consolidate its championships. As a condition of his title restoration, Charr was ordered to defend against Jarrell Miller by October 14, 2023. However, the Miller fight did not materialize due to reported financial issues, leading the WBA to grant Charr a 60-day extension to find a new opponent.
Charr was scheduled to fight Kubrat Pulev in Sofia, Bulgaria, on March 30, 2024. This fight was postponed until September after Charr tore his left bicep during training on March 18 and required surgery. The fight eventually took place on December 7, 2024, at Arena Sofia, where Charr lost his WBA (Regular) title to Pulev by a 12-round unanimous decision (111-117, 111-117, 112-116).
4. Personal Life
Beyond his professional boxing career, Mahmoud Charr has endured significant personal challenges and milestones.
In 2015, Charr was involved in a serious incident at a kebab shop in Essen, Germany. While dining with rapper Kay One, Charr was shot four times in the abdomen during a drive-by shooting. The incident stemmed from an ongoing argument Charr had been having with an online troll for several weeks. He underwent emergency surgery that night to save his life. The perpetrator, whom Charr identified to the police, later turned himself in.
In May 2017, Charr underwent double-hip replacement surgery, a major procedure that highlighted the physical toll of his athletic career.
On April 24, 2024, at 4 AM GMT, Charr's first son, Kabir Mahdi Charr, was born at the Kings College Hospital in Dubai. Charr announced the birth of his son on social media, marking a significant personal event amidst his ongoing boxing career and legal challenges.
5. Professional Boxing Record
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | Loss | 34-5 | Kubrat Pulev | UD | 12 | 7 Dec 2024 | Arena Armeec, Sofia, Bulgaria | Lost WBA (Regular) heavyweight title |
| 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 and WBC Baltic heavyweight titles |
| 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 |
Mahmoud Charr's professional record stands at 34 wins (20 by knockout), 5 losses (3 by knockout), and 0 draws.
6. Titles and Achievements
Mahmoud Charr has accumulated numerous titles throughout his professional boxing career, ranging from regional championships to world titles. These include:
- WBC International Silver Heavyweight Champion (November 18, 2011 - July 2014)
- WBC Baltic Heavyweight Champion (December 21, 2012 - June 2013)
- WBC Mediterranean Heavyweight Champion (December 21, 2012 - March 2014)
- WBC CIS & Slovac Boxing Bureau (CISBB) Heavyweight Champion (October 19, 2013 - July 2015)
- WBA International Heavyweight Champion (September 17, 2016 - December 2017)
- WBA (Regular) Heavyweight Champion (First reign: November 25, 2017 - January 29, 2021)
- WBA Heavyweight Champion in Recess (January 29, 2021 - January 3, 2022, then stripped)
- WBA (Regular) Heavyweight Champion (Second reign: August 31, 2023 - December 7, 2024)
