Undefeated Charly Suarez leaves for US as underdog vs Mexican foe Navarrete

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Olympian Charly Suarez heads to the United States with a chip on his shoulder as the 36-year-old undefeated boxer is tagged as a huge underdog to dethrone Mexican knockout artist Emmanuel Navarrete for the WBO junior lightweight title

MANILA, Philippines – After spending Holy Week in training, Charly Suarez will be sparring for six rounds on Monday, April 21, before taking the night flight bound for Los Angeles, California.

That’s if his United States visa gets delivered on the day as scheduled.

Delfin Boholst, Suarez’s chief trainer, said they are ready to fly out and make up for lost time as they were supposed to depart last April 10 to wrap up their preparations for Suarez’s WBO (World Boxing Organization) junior lightweight title fight against Mexican Emmanuel Navarrete at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California on Saturday, May 10, (Sunday, May 11, Manila time).

Despite his 18-0 record, laced with 10 knockouts, Suarez has been tagged the huge underdog in the 12-rounder to be aired live by ESPN.

Oddsmakers are giving Suarez only a 20% chance of dethroning Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 knockouts), installing the three-division world champion as a -450 favorite over the 2016 Olympian who was listed at +350.

After studying and analyzing videos of Navarrete’s fights, Boholst concedes the 30-year-old Mexican throws more punches than Suarez.

Boholst, however, has charted a game plan intended to negate this advantage and boost Suarez’s chances of ending the Mexican’s spell on Filipino opponents.

Navarrete stopped Jhon Jemino in 2017, Glenn Porras in 2018, Juan Miguel Elorde in 2019, and Jeo Santisima in 2020.

Aware of Suarez’s capability, the Navarrete camp has enlisted the services of touted strength and conditioning coach Angel “Memo” Heredia.

Boholst said Suarez is unfazed by these developments.

“He (Suarez) isn’t worried a bit. I’m the one who is more concerned,” said Boholst. “He’s raring to fight and prove that he’s still got it at 36 (years old).”

Boholst said Suarez is 90 percent ready for the biggest fight of his pro career, which started late in 2019.

Tapped by Boholst to help him whip Suarez into optimal form are 1990 Asian Games gold medalist Bobby Jalnaiz and Dr. Bert Cinco, who’ll act as the cutman on fight night. – Rappler.com