PRO boxer Charly Suarez made a triumphant return to the national team, beating Pidnuch Khunatip of Thailand, 5-0, in a slugfest on Monday to win a Southeast Asian Games gold medal.
Suarez won in all five judges' scorecards, 30-27, after what was easily the most exciting fight of the evening to give the Philippines the fifth gold boxing medal at the PICC Forum.
Suarez also became the first professional fighter for the Philippines to win a SEA Games gold.
A 2016 Olympian and now a three-time SEA Games gold medalist, Suarez is technically now a pro fighter since 2018, a year after winning the bronze medal in Kuala Lumpur two years ago in the biennial meet.
He has already amassed three wins in his pro career, all by knockout.