Suarez loss may be overturned
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 12 May 2025
WBO superfeatherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete retained his belt via a unanimous technical decision over Charly Suarez at the Pechanga Arena, San Diego, Saturday night (yesterday morning, Manila time) after the fight was stopped one second into the eighth round as referee Edward Collantes waved it off on the ringside physician’s advice. The Mexican was ruled unfit to continue due to a forehead cut over his left eye, supposedly opened by an accidental headbutt in the sixth frame.
Controversy tainted the verdict as ESPN later reviewed expanded replays of when the cut was inflicted and found a left hook from Suarez did the damage, not a butt. There was a slight head clash that happened after Suarez’ blow landed and Navarrete appeared to playact as if to indicate the foul. But the collision couldn’t have led to a gash as deep as what Navarrete suffered on his forehead.
Carl Moretti of fight promoter Top Rank said the California State Athletic Commission and WBO plan to review the ESPN videos so it’s possible the result could be overturned. Wil Esco of SB Nation: Bad Left Hook, called it a controversial verdict and reported ESPN’s “clean zoomed-in angle … showed Navarrete’s skin tearing open from the punch and not the head clash.” An overturn could mean a no-contest unless Suarez is declared the winner by TKO. MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons said, “worst case scenario, order a rematch.” If a rematch is ordered and Navarrete opts to move up in weight, Suarez will be pitted against No. 2 contender Kenichi Ogawa of Japan for the vacant throne.
Two of the three judges saw Suarez winning the sixth where Navarrete was cut at the 2:41 mark and they all awarded the seventh to the challenger. Since the bout was halted a second into the eighth frame and boxing rules require every round to be scored, the judges gave it to both fighters 10 points even. Judges Fernando Villareal and Lou Moret had it 77-76 while judge Pat Russell, 78-75 in the end.
Suarez’s nose was bloodied in the first round as Navarrete, who took a second trip on the scales to make weight the day before, looked like he wanted to finish it early to avoid a late meltdown. But displaying a warrior’s heart, Suarez stormed back and adjusted his point of attack by narrowing distance to take away Navarrete’s reach advantage. He clearly took the sixth and seventh as Navarrete began to wilt. Suarez seemed on the way to win when Navarrete was rescued by an apparently incorrect ruling.
Former Ilocos Sur Gov. and Suarez’ manager Chavit Singson said it was a clear punch that opened the cut. “Charly was robbed of a victory,” he said. “We will file an appeal. Charly deserves the win and the world title.”
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
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