Heavyweight Manuel Charr Outworks Kevin Johnson In Germany

WBC #6 rated heavyweight contender Manuel Charr scored a ten round unanimous decision win over former world title challenger Kevin Johnson on Saturday night in front of 5,000 fans at Telekom Dome in Bonn, Germany.

Both fighters had their moments in a good action fight. Charr was the more aggressive fighter who kept on coming forward while Johnson landed a couple of decent jabs and counter punches.

While “Kingpin” Johnson seemed to land the harder shots, especially in the middle rounds, Charr earned the decision win by his greater level of overall activity. In the end the judges scored 98-92, 98-92 and 97-93 for Charr.

“I am very happy that everything worked out well”, said Charr. “What people have to understand is that I have not only been the main event fighter on this show. I also promoted and organized the whole event with a very small team of good friends.

“I took a big risk and worked all day and night – in the gym and in the office – to get it done. I want to thank all the people who supported me and the many fans who came to see the show. Not many fighters can fill a big venue like this without TV and without a big promoter.”

Jonson accepted defeat although he said he knew he wouldn’t get a decision in Germany no matter what he did. “I knew I had to knock him out but we are talking about a world rated fighter who is a really tough guy”, said Johnson.

“I hit him with a couple of good shots but he kept moving forward. I couldn’t stop him. It’s as simple as that. And we all know that you have to knock out your opponent twice to get a decision win on the road.

“That’s what I tried to do. But I couldn’t get it done. I have to give my respect to Manuel and his team. They did a great job. And he is a hell of a fighter. He connected with some good shots as well. It was give and take. Congrats to him for his victory.”

In the co-feature of the night, world rated middleweight contender Hamid Rahimi scored an impressive first round KO against overmatched Czech journeyman Bronislav Kubin.

Although he is clearly no world class fighter, Kubin is known to be durable and who went the distance with a lot of good opponents. But Rahimi connected with a clean right hand to the chin within the first minute of the fight.

Kubin broke the count but he was back on wobbly legs. Rahimi saw his chance and took it, knocking his opponent down two more times before referee Jürgen Langos waived off the fight after 1:39 minutes.

“I apologize to all fans who wanted to see a longer fight but I trained really hard for this bout and saw lots of videos of Kubin”, said Rahimi.

“I knew he was taking down his hand a little bit after his jabs. So I waited for the right moment and caught him. I would have loved to fight a little longer, but when you see an opening you got to use it.”

Rahimi had made worldwide news in 2012 when he organized and promoted the first ever professional boxing show in his home country Afghanistan, labeled as “Fight for Peace”.

At the moment there are rumors about a WBO elimination bout between the “Peace Fighter” and British contender Billy Joe Saunders.