Hamburg, 28th of January– It was just a formality. Everything Mahmoud Charr needed to enter the US and defend his WBA Heavyweight Title against American Trevor Bryan was a P1-Visa. A visa specifically created for professional athletes to compete abroad and earn money while doing so. But in order to receive this, a signed contract by Don King Productions was needed to proof that the event on January 29th was actually taking place. But still to this day DKP has not sent a signed contract, nor did they show evidence of a booked venue. In the end the US consulate in Frankfurt could not hand out the visa without documents as proof.

From the start it became crystal clear that Don King Productions were never interested in making Charr vs. Bryan happen in the first place. They never took care of visas, flights, hotel booking or the necessary medicals. In fact, it was Charr and EC Boxing trying to arrange all of these things, even though DKP were responsible as stated in the original contract. Their petition to the WBA to make Charr „Champion in recess“ and get their own fighter (Bermane Stiverne) in as a replacement only further proofs the foul play happening.

„At the end of the day we did everything we could. We just hope the WBA acts wisely now, so that Mahmoud can finally step back in the ring to defend his title“, Charr‘s promoter Erol Ceylan (EC Boxing) states. 

Las Vegas, Nevada – American Dreams Presents have teamed up with Don King Productions to add a special heavyweight attraction to Don King’s January 29th pay-per-view. The event takes place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

The card is headlined by the WBA heavyweight showdown pitting Manuel Charr against Trevor Bryan. In the co-feature bout Beibut Shumenov and Raphael Murphy will fight for the WBA cruiserweight title.

American Dream Presents’ CEO Ronald Johnson will appear on the pay-per-view portion of the undercard against veteran heavyweight Raphael Zumbano.

“I want to face the winner of Charr-Bryan and what better way to get ready for that fight than to be on this undercard. I don’t really care who wins but may the best man win and give me my shot next,” The heavyweight veteran stated.

In order for a title fight to become a possibility, Johnson knows he must take care of the task at hand and is 100% focused on his upcoming opponent.

“Zumbano is a guy who has been in with most of the top heavyweights and I know he is going to come right after me. He’s known for being very durable and tough. I plan on putting on a show for all the fans that will be tuning in,” said Johnson.

“This is just the first step. We are taking it one step at a time and we won’t stop until we win a world title,” Johnson explained.

Both Johnson and Love have been out of the ring since 2019 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He plans on making up for lost time with a big year in 2021.

This will also be the legendary Don King’s first event in several years and Johnson said it has been great working with him.

“Don King is one of the greatest promoters of all time. He has promoted several of the top names in the sport over the past 50 years. It is a pleasure doing business with him. January 29th can’t come soon enough. I can’t wait until I get my hand raised,” Johnson stated.

“Boxing can be a lonely sport, support is key to getting to this opportunity of where I am in my career right now. That’s why I’m so thankful for my long time partner Ronn Bailey who has always believed in me and even built me a private gym 10 years ago. He’s always talked highly of Mr. King and he approved of me doing business with Mr. King.”

Deerfield Beach, FL (January 15, 2021)—It’s a new year and the world’s greatest boxing promoter, Don King, is ready to present two world title fights at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL on Friday, Jan. 29.

While the boxing card will not be open to a live audience, King will present two world title fights–one for the WBA Heavyweight Championship and the other for the WBA cruiserweight championship plus three other classic fights of the past on Don King TV live streamed worldwide for $19.95 (www.donking.com).

King, who won the WBA purse bid back on March 2, 2020 for the heavyweight championship fight pitting WBA World Heavyweight Champion Mahmoud Charr (31-4, 17 KOs) from Germany via Syria and the number one contender in Trevor Bryan (20-0, 14 KOs) from Fort Lauderdale, FL via New York.

The WBA has mandated the fight to be held by Jan. 29^th and President Gilberto Jesus Mendoza has stated “should any or both of the fighters (Charr and Bryan) fail to sign the contract, they will lose their position as champion or/and mandatory challenger.”

Both fighters have gone through VADA testing via Dr. Margaret Goodman of Las Vegas, NV.

“I’ve won the purse bid and the WBA is mandating that this fight take place by Jan. 29^th and that is when we are having this boxing card in a bubble at the Hard Rock,” said King.

Prior to the main event, Beibut Shumenov, the WBA World Cruiserweight Champion (18-2, 12 KOs) from Las Vegas, NV via Kazakhstan, will defend his world title against Raphael Murphy (14-1, 11 KOs) from Harlington, TX in a 12-round bout.

A special heavyweight attraction will feature Bermane Stiverne (25-4-1, 21 KOs) from Las Vegas, NV via Canada, the former WBC Heavyweight Champion.

17th of July 2020 – EC Boxing’s newly signed Heayvweight Mahmoud Charr has made it clear once again that he is willing to fight the big names of the division. In recent social media posts he offered non-other than former World Champion Andy Ruiz Jr. to fight him for his WBA World Title: „Andy Ruiz – I give you the opportunity to become World Champion again. Accept my challenge and do not hide behind your manager or promoter. Be a man and fight me, I’ll come to the US or Mexiko, I guarantee you that this will be a real battle.“

With Promoter Erol Ceylan from Hamburg, Germany at his side, fights of that scale have become possible for Charr, who’s been eagerly awaiting his return to the ring. Ceylan, who started EC Boxing a decade ago, has made a name for himself in the business. Apart from Charr, well-known boxers such as Christian Hammer, IBO Welterweight Champion Sebastian Formella or Light Heayvweight contender Igor Mikhalkin are part of his stable. Ceylan wants his new client to be involved in massive events: „Mahmoud wants to fight everyone and we are willing to negotiate with everyone. It’s time for a big Heavyweight showdown.“

Ruiz, who recently aligned himself with highly-rated Canelo trainer Eddy Reynoso, would be a huge task for the man from Cologne, but big challenges are nothing new for him. He fought both Vitali Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin in Moscow, as well as other relevant names in the division. He never turned down a dangerous fight. And while Charr is preparing for battle, Erol Ceylan is doing everything in his power to get them done.

15th of July 2020 – Two old friends have finally reunited: Boxing promoter Erol Ceylan from Hamburg and WBA World Champion Mahmoud Charr from Cologne. Both have now signed a long-term contract in Hamburg, with the aim that Charr will defend his WBA Heavyweight belt as soon as possible. Many unfortunate circumstances have prevented Charr from defending his title since 2017, but this should now be over: “I am sure that Erol, with his close ties to US promoters, is the right partner at my side. I would like to fight Andy Ruiz and then target Tyson Fury,” Charr states confidently.
 
Erol Ceylan from EC Boxing is also very exited about this new partnership: “Mahmoud was and always will be a part of the ECB family. We are currently restructuring our stable and looking for new strategies moving forward. After signing Ukrainian heavyweight Victor Faust, we now also have a reigning Heavyweight World Champion in Mahmoud. We are in a good position, and I am convinced that he soon will be involved in massive fights.”
 
With Charr and IBO Welterweight Champ Sebastian Formella, Ceylan is now the only promoter in Germany who has two World Champions under contract. On top of that he works with a plethora of other heavyweights. Besides Charr and Faust, proven contenders such as former Fury-foe Christian Hammer, Turkish Boxer Ali Eren Demirezen and former European Champion Erkan Teper are part of his big stable. Just like the World Champions of the team they are ready to take on all comers.
 
Mahmoud Charr and his family fled to Germany when he was still a child. In his early 20s, after a short amateur career, he entered the professional game, where he worked with legendary Sauerland coach Ulli Wegner among others. Bit by bit he climbed the rankings, before fulfilling a lifelong dream in 2012, when he faced Vitali Klitschko for the WBC World Championship in Moscow. In the end only a cut to his eye could stop Charr, who gave a courageous effort and fought his heart out. The controversial stoppage is causing heated debates to this day.
 
In the following years, the almost 6 foot 4 inches tall man entered the ring against various wellknown faces in the boxing world – often outside of Germany. Particularly in Russia, he earned himself the reputation of a fighter who never ducks a challenge. With Alexander Povetkin, Alex Leapai, Johann Duhaupas, Michael Grant, Kevin Johnson, and Mairis Briedis, Charr has faced various reigning or former World Champions or World Championship challengers. In 2017, more than a decade after the start of his career, he finally got another chance to win a World Championship belt. In the König Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany, Charr outpointed Alexander Ustinov and won the WBA Title. Now with Ceylan at his side, Charr is ready to add new chapters to his extraordinary story.

After what seems like years of stops and starts, Manuel Charr has been ordered to defend his secondary WBA Heavyweight title against Fres Oquendo, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“Although VADA and the WBA had reason to assume that Charr did not intend to have a representative attend the opening and testing of the B sample, Charr claims that his requests regarding the B sample testing were not acknowledged,” the WBA wrote in its resolution, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN. “Regardless of the disputes over communications and notice, Charr did not have a representative attend the B sample testing. Charr provided a third sample to VADA on Sept. 29, 2018, and the sample tested negative, according to a VADA communication of Nov. 6 2018.”

“Because of the lapse of time since the taking of the A and B samples and the communication issues alleged by Charr, the suspension is recalled,” the WBA wrote. However, the lifting of the suspension was subject to certain conditions.

“As the exclusive co-promoters of Fres Oquendo, Square Ring and Hitz Boxing intend to comply with the WBA resolution, and as we already have an agreement in place with the Charr camp and the money is already in escrow in the United States, the only thing we need to do now is set the date and the site of the fight,” Square Ring promoter John Wirt told ESPN on Monday night.

Vitali Klitschko retained the WBC Heavyweight title when opponent Manuel Charr was deemed unable to continue after round four in Moscow, Russia.

Klitschko dominated as he kept Charr ast distance. Char tried and once in a while was successful getting shots into Klitscko. Klitschko scored a knockdown in the second from a little right hand on the inside. Charr was cut around the right eye in round two and a right hand caused a bigger cut around the left eye in round four and the fight was stopped at 2:04 of round four.

Klitschko, 248 1/2 lbs is now 45-2 with forty-one knockouts