12 years ago

Date: 8th September 2012

Venue: Olimpiyskiy, Moscow, Russia

Title: WBC Heavyweight Title

Promoter: Tom Loeffler

Tv: RTL & HBO

Vitali Klitschko
( 44 - 2 - 0 )
Weight: 248 lbs

Manuel Charr
( 21 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 241½ lbs

On September 8, 2012, at the Olimpiyskiy in Moscow, Russia, Vitali Klitschko defended his World Boxing Council Heavyweight Title against Manuel Charr. The fight was Klitschko's ninth consecutive title defence and was widely anticipated to be his final bout before retiring. The match ended in a technical knockout in favour of Klitschko at 2:04 in the fourth round, marking his 41st knockout victory and improving his record to 45-2. Charr, born in Beirut and representing Germany, saw his record change to 21-1 following the loss.

The venue for the fight was initially set to be the Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine, but was moved to Moscow due to technical issues. In an unusual pre-fight event, Vitali's wife, Natalia Klitschko, performed "The Power of Love" by Jennifer Rush, a performance that was broadcast to an estimated 220 million viewers worldwide.

From the onset, Klitschko demonstrated his dominance, leaving little room for Charr to mount a significant challenge. The ringside doctor stopped the fight due to a bleeding eyebrow on Charr, a decision that sparked protests from the German contender. Despite Charr's desire to continue, the doctor's judgment to halt the bout due to the injury was final, ensuring Klitschko's victory via technical knockout.

Klitschko expressed a slight disappointment in the manner of his win, preferring a decisive knockout to a doctor's stoppage. He acknowledged Charr's tenacity and predicted he would one day become a champion. Undeterred by the loss, Charr voiced his dissatisfaction with the fight's conclusion, attributing his defeat not to Klitschko but to the doctor's intervention. He expressed a keen interest in a rematch, although Klitschko noted the broad interest in facing him and the importance of giving other boxers opportunities.

Charr's primarily defensive strategy saw a momentary shift at the end of the first round with a few offensive moves. The second round featured a knockdown by Klitschko, with Charr finishing the round. Klitschko's tactics aimed to provoke Charr into making mistakes, a plan that saw fruition midway through the third round with a significant hook to Charr's face.

Following the fight, Klitschko, aged 41, hinted at his impending retirement from boxing, citing his age and the inevitability of having to "hang my gloves on a nail soon." He also mentioned his commitment to political endeavours in Ukraine, mainly focusing on his leadership role in the "Udar" (Strike) political party and the upcoming parliamentary elections.

This fight marked a significant moment in Klitschko's illustrious boxing career and highlighted the intersection of sports and politics in his life. The heavyweight champion was poised to transition from the ring to the political arena.