Rola El-Halabi
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Associated Press
BERLIN -- Boxer Rola El-Halabi was shot by her stepfather and former manager before a title fight, inflicting injuries that are not life-threatening but could imperil her career.
The undefeated 25-year-old German was preparing to fight Irma Balijagic Adler of Bosnia for the vacant IBF lightweight title Friday night when her 44-year-old stepfather entered her dressing room and shot her in the hand, knee and feet.
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AP Photo/Andreas Markus
Female boxer Rola El-Halabi was shot, along with two security guards, by her stepfather and former manager Friday in Germany.
He also shot two security guards before being arrested, Berlin police said.
Sunday's edition of the Bild newspaper identified the gunman as Roy El-Halabi and reported that 800 spectators were evacuated from the arena.
Rola El-Halabi told the German daily: "Papa rushed into the room. He threatened us with a gun in his hand and shouted 'Everyone out!' And then he shot me in the hand from 3 meters. I cried and screamed."
Bild reported that El-Halabi split from her stepfather as a manager in January.
"When I had problems I could talk with him about anything, except when it was about boys. That was taboo," El-Halabi said.
The three victims were taken to the hospital for surgery.
El-Halabi won the WIBF and WIBA world titles in 2009 and has an 11-0 career record with six knockouts.
