Charly Suarez flew across the Pacific Ocean to be in Arizona this past weekend to watch his old rival Emanuel Navarrete unify two of the junior lightweight title belts against Eduardo Nunez. He had a good vantage point to watch as Navarrete scored one of the biggest victories of his career, battering Nunez into submission before the fight was stopped in the 11th round.
Navarrete’s dominance surprised many in the boxing world, but it didn’t surprise Suarez.
“I wasn’t surprised at all. I think he did excellently and you can tell that he was in great condition,” said Suarez, 18-0 (10 KOs), a 2016 Olympian from San Isidro, Davao del Norte, Philippines.
Suarez was likely the most interested observer in attendance as the World Boxing Organization had ordered Suarez to face the winner next, with the sanctioning body granting a 20-day negotiation period, after which the fight will have to take place within 120 days.
Suarez is being represented in negotiations by promoter Chavit Singson and an attorney by the name of Ricardo Navalta. Navarrete is represented by his promoter, Top Rank.
Suarez says he had a brief interaction with Navarrete, 40-2-1 (33 KOs), after the fight.
“He called on me as I was standing at ringside and asked me to come closer so we can take a picture together. Then he said, ‘Suarez-Navarrete II’ while making a gesture pointing on his waist, indicating a fight for the belts,” said Suarez.
Delfin Boholst, the manager/trainer for Suarez, says they will be pushing themselves to the limit to get the win in this fight.
“In the preparation, I'll pour all my skills and research into how to increase Charly's skills and conditioning. Charly and I will give it our all to win the fight,” said Boholst, a former national team boxer and trainer.
Suarez, 37, gave Navarrete all he could handle in their first meeting last May in California, before the fight was stopped at the beginning of the eighth round due to a cut over Navarrete’s left eye. Originally ruled by referee Edward Collantes to be caused by an accidental headbutt, Navarrete was ruled the technical decision winner before the fight was changed to a no-contest by the California State Athletic Commission.
Replay footage showed that Navarrete’s cut was caused by a punch, which would have made Suarez the winner by technical knockout.
While Navarrete’s win likely makes him a bigger favorite in the rematch, he knows it also means the fight is now bigger the second time around. Suarez says he plans to make the most of this next opportunity.
“This is a good fight in our division. People are looking forward to it, especially the Mexicans and Filipinos,” said Suarez, who hopes the rematch takes place in Las Vegas.
“The opportunity comes to me only once, and I hope I can achieve my dream of becoming a world champion. By God's grace and will, he will give it to me. Let's do everything for it.”
