Iranian weightlifting champion and holder of the country's Strongest-Man title has been killed after a verbal fight which turned violent. The incident occurred late on Saturday when 30-year-old Rouhollah Dadashi and three young men were involved in a street fight in Golshahr district of Karaj city, located 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of the Iranian capital Tehran, IRIB reported. The verbal argument soon turned physical. Dadashi was then attacked and an assailant stabbed him in the neck and chest several times. The attackers, whose whereabouts are unknown, later fled the scene. The renowned Iranian weightlifter succumbed to his injuries in hospital early on Sunday. Police has launched an extensive search operation to arrest the perpetrators. Dadashi participated in Iran's Strongest-Man competitions five times and won once in 2009 and once in 2010.