MANUEL Charr’s handlers have lodged a protest against the result of his fight against Vitali Klitschko. The German heavyweight’s management said in Berlin on Tuesday they were protesting to the WBC on a technicality because the ring doctor treated Charr in Klitschko’s red corner, not Charr’s blue corner.

The bout in Moscow was stopped in the fourth round when Charr (27) was bleeding from a cut near his right eye. Klitschko therefore retained his WBC heavyweight title. “The protest is motivated by a clear and indisputable violation. The official rules were given to both teams the day before the fight in a meeting,” said Pit Gleim, boss of Diamond Boy promotions, who manage Charr.

Klitschko admitted that he was bewildered. “What’s the point of him doing that?” the 41-year-old champion asked at a news conference in Kiev, Ukraine.” Another round, or a maximum of two, and he (Charr) would have been on the floor.” But Charr’s handlers are hoping for a rematch even though the protest has only a slim chance of succeeding.

Thomas Puetz, president of Germany’s Professional Boxers Federation, has already said there was no rule violation after the fight. Charr, a Beirut-born former kickboxer, suffered the first defeat of his 22-fight career.
“I can’t sleep since Saturday night. My victory was stolen from me. We have to box again,” Charr wrote on his Facebook page. After being knocked down in the second round, Charr was well beaten by the veteran champion. – Nampa/AFP