CHARLY Suarez got an added motivation heading to his first ever shot at a world title after reigning WBO junior-lightweight champion Emmanuel Navarrete of Mexico struggled to make the weight limit.
The 30-year-old Navarrete needed to step into the scales three times before finally making it at 130lbs.
Suarez meanwhile, came in at 129.9lbs right in his first attempt during the official weigh-in Saturday (Manila time) held in San Diego, California.
Navarrete, defending his crown for the fourth time, initially tipped in at 130.4lbs, before making a second attempt by going up the scales naked and hit at 130.3lbs.
The champion was then given two hours to lose the added pounds.
Obviously, the camp of Suarez composed of trainer Delfin Boholst and team coordinator Rick Navalta, liked what they saw as the Mexican champion looked drained trying to make the weight.
Once in a lifetime shot for Suarez
“I will win this fight, no matter what happens,” said Suarez, 36, as Navarrete’s team made the exit and tried to shed the extra weight. “This is my opportunity. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime and I will do my best.”
Navarrete (39-2-1 with 32 KOs) returned after and barely made it at 130.
Of course, the reigning champion had several cases in the past where he also struggled with his weight, but the Suarez camp sees it as a huge opportunity to pounce on and pull off the year’s biggest upset in boxing.
Suarez, who represented the country in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics, sports a perfect 18-0 record with 10 KOs, although he’ll be in boxing’s biggest stage for the first time since turning pro late in 2019.
His last fight against American Jorge Castaneda in September last year ended in a third round stoppage.
A three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medal winner and silver medalist in the Asian Games, the native of Sawata, San Isidro, Davao Del Norte is a 4-3 underdog against Navarrete, who is on a 33-fight win streak including 12-0 in world title bouts.
The third man in the ring is Edward Collantes, while the three judges supervising the 12-round bout at the Pechanga Arena are Lou Moret, Pat Russell, and Fernando Villareal.
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