Manuel Charr wins WBA heavyweight title by defeating Alexander Ustinov… just two years after he was left fighting for his life after being shot

MANUEL CHARR was last night crowned WBA 'regular' heavyweight champ - just two years after he was left fighting for his life after being shot.

The Lebanese-born German outpointed Russian giant Alexander Ustinov at the Koenig-Pilsener-Arena in Oberhausen, Germany to complete a tale of Rocky proportions.

Back in September 2015, Charr was shot in in the stomach following a late night argument in a kebab snack bar in Essen, west Germany.

After fighting back from the horror injuries sustained which saw him training in hospital, he then underwent two hip-replacements that threatened to end his boxing career.

Doctors described how he had the "mobility of an 80-year-old".

But Charr, 33, was lifting the world title last night after comfortably seeing off 6ft 7ins Ustinov 115-111, 116-111, 115-112 on the judges' scorecards.

His most famous clash was in 2012 when he was stopped by ex-WBC champion Vitali Klitschko in the fourth round of his only previous world title fight.

It sets up the prospect of a potential dust-up against IBF, IBO and WBA 'super' champ Anthony Joshua, as well as the likes of Dillian Whyte and Hughie Fury.

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Charr was also involved in a knife fight in August 2006 and charged with attempted murder, but the case was dismissed due to a lack of evidence.

He arrived in Germany in 1989 as a refugee and was stabbed in the back with a knife when he was 16.

Speaking before his fight against 40-year-old Ustinov, Charr said: "I have experienced much more than fits in a life.

"I'm like a cat with seven lives. I've used five so I have to change something."

Charr rocked Ustinov in the seventh round when he had the taller fighter against the ropes and tried to finish off the bout.

The Russian weathered the punches but seemed disorientated, allowing Charr through again and again with his left.

Charr finished the eighth by catching Ustinov with a vicious left blow that left the Russian on his knees with blood streaming below his left eye. The bell provided respite.

Ustinov displayed remarkable resilience as he lumbered through the next rounds but Charr had already done enough.

Charr improved to 31-4 with 17 KOs, while Ustinov dropped to 34-2 (25 KOs).