IT’S not too late for Charly Suarez to vie for a world championship.
The 36-year-old Filipino Olympian gets a first ever crack at a world title when he challenges reigning WBO super-featherweight champ Emanuel Navarrete of Mexico.
The bout is penciled for a May 10 schedule at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego.
Suarez’s world title bid was made possible by his chief backer in former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson, who directly negotiated the fight with Top Rank chief Bob Arum.
The three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medal winner, alongwith his trainer Delfin Boholst and his compact team, paid a courtesy call to Singson on Monday to personally thank him for paving the way for title match.
Suarez (18-0, 10 KOs) is currently ranked no. 1 by the WBO.
Suarez wants redemption
“Ito na yung pagkakataon ko. Yung sa Olympics kasi hindi ko nakuha. So kung anuman yung mga natutunan ko doon, dito ko na ia-apply,” said Suarez, who represented the country in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics.
The Filipino of course, will be entering the ring as a heavy underdog against the tall, volume-punching Navarrete, who is making the fourth defense of the WBO title after a ninth round TKO of Liam Wilson two years ago.
The Mexican champion sports a 39-2-1 record with 32 KOs and is coming off a sixth round stoppage of fellow Mexican and world champion Oscar Valdez last December.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
