Heavyweight boxing continues to be in the doldrums despite the 4th round TKO victory of WBC champion Vitali Klitschko against former Muay Thai champion Manuel Charr whose acting ability appeared to be far better than his boxing skills in a title fight in Moscow.
A cut on the side of the Charr?s right eye was considered bad enough by the ring doctor to recommend to referee Guido Cavalleri that the fight be stopped.
Angry over what he considered a premature stoppage the challenger immediately kicked and punched the ropes, showing more aggression than in the more than 11 minutes that the fight lasted.
Charr made a dramatic entrance and attempted to stare down Klitschko but as the bout went on Charr never troubled the 41 year old Klitschko who showed his age with the hand-speed of a much older fighter.
Super Sport reported that even in taking his record to 45-2, with 41 knockouts, Klitschko did not look like one of the two men ? his brother Wladimir being the other one ? who have dominated heavyweight boxing for a few years.
Indeed, he and Charr provided more evidence that heavyweight boxing is in big trouble.
Charr was dropped by a right to the head for a mandatory eight-count at the end of the second round and in the following round Charr connected with a few lefts to Klitschko?s face but a stiff left hook late in the fourth resulted in the cut that would probably take several stitches.
The 27 year old Charr also lost his undefeated status and dropped to 21-1; 11.
On the undercard Magomed Abdusalamov knocked out American Jameel McCline in the second round after taking a count in the first round.
Abdusalamov is now unbeaten after 16 fights and 16 knockouts. McCline dropped to 41-13-3, with 24 knockouts.
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