Navarrete Retains WBO Title via Controversial Technical Decision Over Suarez
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 11 May 2025
Emanuel "Vaquero" Navarrete (40-2-1, 32 KOs) retained his WBO super featherweight title in a chaotic and controversial bout against Filipino challenger Charly Suarez (18-1, 10 KOs) at Pechanga Arena in San Diego Saturday night (Sunday in Manila). The fight was halted at the start of the eighth round due to a severe cut over Navarrete’s left eyebrow, leading to a technical decision victory for the Mexican champion.
Referee Edward Collantes, upon the advice of the ringside physician, stopped the contest at one second of the eighth round, as Navarrete’s corner failed to control the bleeding from a gash sustained in Round 6. The cut was initially ruled an accidental headbutt, a decision upheld by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) after reviewing video footage. However, ESPN’s broadcast team, utilizing 15 different camera angles, suggested the wound was caused by a punch—which, if confirmed, would have awarded Suarez a technical knockout victory.
The judges’ scorecards — 78-75 (Pat Russell) and 77-76 twice (Lou Moret, Fernando Villarreal) — all favored Navarrete at the time of the stoppage, allowing him to retain his title. Had the cut been deemed punch-induced, Suarez would have been declared the winner, marking a stunning upset in his first world title bid.
The fight was a back-and-forth war, with both men having moments of dominance:
- Rounds 1-3: Navarrete started aggressively, bloodying Suarez’s nose early with relentless volume punching. However, the Filipino Olympian adjusted well, countering effectively in Rounds 2 and 3 to even the scorecards .
- Rounds 4-5: Navarrete regained control with heavy body shots and uppercuts, visibly hurting Suarez and appearing to pull ahead on the cards.
- Round 6: The turning point came when a fierce exchange opened a deep cut over Navarrete’s left eye. Suarez capitalized, buckling the champion with sharp counters as blood streamed into Navarrete’s vision .
- Round 7: Despite impaired sight, Navarrete fought desperately, swinging wildly for a knockout while Suarez boxed smartly, seemingly stealing the round before the stoppage.
After the cut sustained by Navarrete, the fight momentum swung clearly in Suarez's favor as Navarrete could not see clearly and kept on wiping the blood that drips to his left eye.
During the post fight interview Navarrete acknowledged the cut changed the fight: "The blood was too much. I couldn’t see. I wanted to keep going, but the doctor made the right call." He also praised Suarez’s toughness, calling him a warrior who deserved this opportunity".
Suarez, though disappointed, accepted the verdict but hinted at a rematch: "I thought I was coming on strong. The cut was from my punches, but the judges saw it differently. I want a rematch."
Team Suarez could request the Commission to review the cut again from additional footages coming from ESPN's cameras and hope to overturn the verdict at least into a no contest or to force a rematch as the result was controversial and inconclusive.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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