Suarez falls short vs Navarrete in controversial title bout

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May 11, 2025 | 12:57pm

MANILA, Philippines — What should have been a crowning moment ended up in a heartbreaking defeat for Filipino boxer Charly Suarez.

The 36-year-old former Olympian lost a technical decision to reigning WBO super featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California Sunday (Manila time).

Navarrete, a wild-swinging Mexican, retained the title after the fight was stopped in the eighth round, as the reigning champion was deemed unable to continue due to a nasty cut above his left eyebrow.

The gash, which occurred in the sixth round, was ruled as being caused by an accidental clash of heads. Replays, however, clearly showed Suarez landing a solid left straight on Navarrete, which opened up the cut.

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And had it been ruled that the cut came from a punch, Suarez would have won by technical knockout the moment the fight was stopped.

Instead, it went to the scorecards, and Navarrete thus escaped with scores of 78-75 and 77-76 (twice).

It was a controversial result to an action-packed bout between a pressure-fighting, power-punching Navarrete and a determined and technically superior Suarez.

“I’m sad, but it’s part of the game,” Suarez said in the ring afterwards.

The fight went off to a rousing start, with a wild-swinging Navarrete demonstrating his power and bloodying Suarez’s nose in the first round. The Filipino challenger, however, stood his ground and managed to land solid shots on his Mexican foe.

Things went even more interesting in that sixth round after the cut occurred, as Suarez smelled blood but was stymied by a huge body shot by Navarrete. The latter spent the rest of the fight wiping blood off his face, until the ringside doctor halted the bout.

“He’s one of the best fighters I’ve fought,” Navarrete (now 40-2-1, with 32 knockouts) said of Suarez, who then expressed his desire to run things back.

“I want a rematch,” said Suarez after absorbing his first defeat in 19 bouts (with 10 KOs).

Former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, who manages Suarez, protested the fight's result and said they will appeal it.

“Clear punch. Maliwanag pa sa sikat ng araw dito sa Pilipinas. Charly was robbed of a victory and boxing fans, even non-Filipinos, know that. We will file an appeal. Charly deserves the win and the world title,” Singson said in a statement.