What Now, Charly?
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 26 Jun 2024
What now, Charly Suarez?
The man he had been chasing for a title fight has recently lost to the man he refused to fight a year before.
Since turning pro, Charly Suarez has made no secret that among his main goals was to get a fight against UK's Joe Cordina to avenge a close split decision loss to the Welsh in the lightweight preliminary round of the 2016 Rio Olympics.
This desire only heightened when Cordina who himself turned pro in 2017 after a failed Olympic campaign, became IBF world champion at super featherweight by knocking out Japan's Kenichi Ogawa in 2022.
Suarez turned pro only in 2020 after winning another gold medal in the Manila South East Asian Games and since then he has racked up 17 straight wins, 9 by knockout.
In the process, he has won the Philippine GAB super featherweight championship and after beating erstwhile undefeated Aussie Paul Fleming, he captured three other major regional titles including the IBO Continental crown which made him mandatory challenger to IBO champion Anthony Cacece of Ireland.
Suarez did not pursue the chance, dead set as he was in landing a title fight versus Cordina and perhaps dismissing the IBO belt of Cacece as a minor championship.
In a cruel, ironic twist of fate, Cordina opted to fight IBO champion Cacece in a unification as among the supporting bouts of the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury undisputed world heavyweight main event in Saudi Arabia.
Cordina had previously successfully defended against Russian Shavkat Rakhimov and Edward Vasquez winning both on points.
Cacece floored Cordina in the third round en route to a dominant 8th round TKO victory emerging as unified IBF and IBO world super featherweight champion.
Will Charly still chase after a fight with Cordina if only to prove that he is the better boxer than the now once beaten Welsh?
Or will he do a career reboot and chase a fight against worthier adversaries.
Like, for example, the man that actually won the 2016 Rio Olympic gold- Brazilian Robson Conceicao who is now on his fourth attempt to win a pro world title at super featherweight?
Conceicao had earlier lost to Shakur Stevenson and Oscar Valdez and was held to draw by Emanuel Navarette. The Brazilian is set to challenge American WBC titlist O' Shaquie Foster next weekend.
Or the other current world champions in the division as Navarette, Lamont Roach.
And yes, Cacece.
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.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Good Prospects at Minimumweight, Light Fly, Super Bantam and Super Feather in 2025
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sat, 23 Nov 2024Filipino International Master Chito Danilo Garma is the new World Senior Blitz champion; Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat takes the bronze medal
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 23 Nov 2024KAMBOSOS JR SIGNS CO-PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM
Sat, 23 Nov 2024INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME TO ANNOUNCE CLASS OF 2025 ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5th
Sat, 23 Nov 2024Ring Master promotes in Calinan on Dec. 21
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 Nov 2024NP Bansalan boxing team in Matalam
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 Nov 2024New York, Minnesota Biggest Trade Gainers; Los Angeles Has the Rookie Draft Steal
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 22 Nov 2024Filipino IM Bagamasbad prevails
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 22 Nov 2024DC girl’s futsal in Palawan now
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 Nov 2024Filipino FIDE Master Ivan Travis Cu is ready to face challenge
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 22 Nov 2024Dante Kirkman Secures First Career Knockout with 3rd Round TKO Victory
Fri, 22 Nov 2024Filipino Middleweight Star Blazen Rocili Set to Return to the Ring This Saturday in San Antonio, TX
Thu, 21 Nov 2024Stallone hands Donald Trump WBC world champion belt
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 21 Nov 2024Filipino International Master Garma beats Lithuanian Grandmaster
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 21 Nov 2024Saturday: Bakary Samake-Wade Ryan & Elwin Soto-Moisés Caro Headline Separate Fight Cards Streaming LIVE on ESPN+
Thu, 21 Nov 2024