German National Anthem Controversy Overshadows Charr's Heavyweight Title Loss

Mahmoud Charr's defeat to Kubrat Pulev in Sofia is eclipsed by the playing of a controversial version of Germany's national anthem.

Before the fight, organizers mistakenly played the first stanza of the German national anthem, which is considered controversial due to its historical associations with Nazi Germany.
Mahmoud Charr, the German-Syrian boxer, lost the WBA heavyweight title to Bulgaria's Kubrat Pulev by unanimous decision after a competitive 12-round match.
Charr's promoter, Erol Ceylan, criticized the anthem mishap as 'embarrassing,' while Charr announced plans to take legal action against the event organizers.
Kubrat Pulev, trained by veteran coach Ulli Wegner, was praised for his superior performance and conditioning, securing the heavyweight title after two previous failed attempts.
The fight marked Charr's return to the ring after a two-year hiatus following legal battles over his WBA title status and earlier doping allegations.