What was supposed to be an immediate rematch between Charly Suarez and Emanuel Navarrete had seemingly been left for dead. That is, until now.
The WBO, through president Gustavo Olivieri, has ordered the camps of Suarez, of the Philippines, and Navarrete, of Mexico, to negotiate that rematch within 20 days, at which point a purse bid would be held should the two camps fail to reach an agreement.
“The WBO World Championship Committee has ordered the commencement of negotiations for the WBO Jr. Lightweight Mandatory Championship between Emanuel Navarrete and Charly Suarez,” the WBO said in a statement Olivieri posted on X. “The parties have 20 days to reach an agreement, otherwise purse bid proceedings may be ordered in accordance with WBO regulations.”
Why Charly Suarez Deserves a Rematch with Emanuel Navarrete
Aside from being the No. 1 contender for Navarrete’s WBO belt, Suarez also has unfinished business with the Mexican. In their championship bout in May of last year, Navarrete won via razor-thin decision, 78-75, 77-76, and 77-76, but only after the fight was called off in the eighth round due to a nasty cut on the Mexican’s left eyebrow. The fight was stopped because referee Edward Collantes ruled the cut as being caused by an accidental clash of heads in Round 6, even though replays clearly showed it was caused by a left straight that grazed Navarrete’s eyebrow.
Collantes’s ruling allowed the fight to go to the scorecards after ringside doctor Dr. Robert Ruelaz’s recommendation to stop the fight just before the start of the eighth round. Had Collantes ruled the cut was caused by a punch, as replays proved conclusively, Suarez would’ve won the fight by technical knockout. Had the fight not been stopped, the Filipino felt he could’ve stopped Navarrete, whom he sensed was losing steam.
The match was ultimately declared a no contest a month later, prompting the WBO to order an immediate rematch—something the Mexican sidestepped initially.
Charly Suarez Might Finally Get It
Unfortunately for the Filipino boxer, that rematch hasn’t happened seven months after the WBO first ordered it. But with this latest announcement, Suarez might finally get it at long last.
And, should that rematch finally come to fruition, Charly Suarez might have added motivation at the chance to win not just one belt but two. This after Navarrete added the IBF junior lightweight crown after stopping compatriot Eduardo Nunez just two weeks ago in their title unification.
