Pacquiao-Lomachenko Compared: A Bee to a Mosquito
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 18 Sep 2019
A bee to a mosquito.
That is how former national amateur boxing team standout and now a prodigious unbeaten fledgling pro boxer Charley Suarez compared eight division champion Manny Pacquiao to Ukrainian sensation Vasiliy Lomachenko.
Suarez certainly knew where he was coming from: He was the only Filipino fighter to have fought Lomachenko during his stint in the semi pro World Boxing Series of the IABA shortly before Loma decided to turn pro.
"Lomachenko's chief assets are his speed, workrate, footwork, volume and accuracy of punches and when he hits you especially in the body, it hurts," Suarez said.
But Charley survived him despite his not being in top form and condition heading towards that fight.
"Senator Pacquiao is on different level despite the fact he is already aging and removed from his prime best," Charley said in Filipino.
"I know because we trained with him in his preparation for the Thurman fight," Charley said. "Nagrereklamo nga si (Vice Mayor) Buboy Fernandez ng pangmamanhid at pananakit ng mga kamay after every mitts hitting session with the Senator," he revealed.
"Kung ikukumpara si Lomachenko kay Senator Pacquiao, parang ikinumpara mo ang lamok sa bubuyog," Charley said.
"Kahit na dengue carrier pa yung lamok, may mabagsik na bubuyog dun sa amin na pag nakagat ka maaari kang mamatay," he added.
in a recent live studio interview in our weekly boxing program "Sport Lang" airing every Saturday 3-5 pm over Radio Pilipinas 2 198 khz, the Davao del Norte native who became a boxer at tender age of eight, vividly recalled that fight with Lomachenko.
Coming in as a late substitute as Loma's original WBS semifinals opponent from Serbia became indisposed, Charley said he only had five days to prepare for the fight. Compounding that, he was still recuperating from a left shoulder injury.
Aware of his predicament, the Italian team coach for his Indian sponsored squad told him to fight and hang on for just three of the five round scheduled and he would be retired by his corner afterwards.
But Charley protested saying that he has been taught and trained from the very beginning to give his all and it would be dishonorable to him and his home country for him to lose in that manner. He vowed to fight to the best of his ability and the optimum of his physical capability regardless of his handicap.
Lomachenko (L) and Suarez (R).
The fight time came and it was competitive for the first three rounds although Lomachenko had the advantage in the exchanges and hence was up by a few points.
The action further heated up in the fourth round and the rigors of the combat aggravated Charley's left shoulder injury, forcing him to fight virtually with just one arm which unfortunately also begun to sore with his preponderance use of it solely in both offense and defense.
To his credit, Charley endured and finished the fight on his feet, shaken up but never in any danger of being knocked down. But both of his shoulders have been damaged on account of aggravated muscle tears.
Charley had to undergo stem cell rehabilitation to repair his shoulder injuries and had to take some time off from boxing.
But in time he was back and again at the spearhead of the Philippine campaign for international and Olympic honor.
His biggest dream was to represent the country in the Olympics and after two unfortunate tries since the Beijing Olympics pre qualification, he managed to attain that dream during the last Rio Olympics.
With biggest dream as amateur realized and after three successive SEA Games golds plus a silver in the Asiad, Charley decided it was time to move to the pro to provide for his wife and child who have given him new inspiration.
Charley said there was amiable parting of ways with his bosses at the ABAP especially with chief supporter Manny V Pangilinan and ABAP secretary general Ed Picson, both of whom he considers as surrogate parents all his times with the national squad.
He said Picson gave him time to think deeply about his plan to turn pro and supported him willingly when he finally decided to pursue a career in the paid ranks.
However, Charley has not totally cut ties with his former ABAP bosses as he revealed a forthcoming participation in an amateur boxing event in Canada.
Now latched with MP Promotions after fighting under two other boxing promotions, Charley has thus far won his three pro bouts, all via the short route, including a first round knockout in his most recent win over veteran Virgil Puton in the undercard of the Casimero-Ramirez main event in Manila.
Charley is currently being trained by Delfin Boholst who is a former standout national boxing team member like him.
Senator Manny Pacquiao has big plans in the offing for this fast rising junior lightweight fighter who is as God and family centered and as dedicated and hardworking in training as him.
The author Teodoro Medina?Reynoso?is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines.?? He can be reached at?teddyreynoso@yahoo.com?and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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