AN injustice befell Olympic boxer Charly Suarez last Sunday, May 11 (Philippine time), at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California, when he challenged Emanuel Navarrete for the WBO super featherweight championship.
What was meant to be a career-defining opportunity for the undefeated Filipino turned into a bitter controversy.
The bout ended abruptly and contentiously in the eighth round due to a cut above Navarrete’s left eyebrow. Officials initially ruled the injury as the result of an accidental clash of heads, prompting the encounter to go to the scorecards. The Mexican champion was declared the winner via unanimous technical decision, with scores of 78-75, 77-76, and 77-76.
However, post-fight footage clearly showed the cut was not from a headbutt, but from a sharp left hand landed by Suarez in the sixth round. Had that been properly assessed at the moment of stoppage, Suarez would have rightfully claimed a victory by technical knockout.
Instead, referee Edward Collantes ruled immediately that it was a head clash, and replay official Jack Reiss — reviewing limited angles at the time — declined to overturn the call.
However, additional footage contradicted that conclusion, prompting the California State Athletic Commission to launch a formal review. The WBO may soon declare the result a no-contest and mandate a rematch.
Navarrete, for his part, insisted that the cut came from an accidental clash, describing it as “two layers deep.” Suarez, who entered the ring with an unblemished 18-0 record, strongly maintained it was his punch that opened the gash — an assertion now supported by the video evidence.
What makes this sting even more is how well-fought the duel was. It was a thrilling contest between two warriors, who weren’t afraid to trade heavy leather. Both had their moments, with each man rocked in stretches. It was precisely the kind of fight that should be remembered for heart and skill — not for officiating errors.
Top Rank executive Carl Moretti stated shortly after the bout that he would push for a rematch. But whether it happens is another story. Navarrete had difficulty making the 130-pound limit and said he’ll take time — particularly during his two-month recovery — to decide whether to continue at super featherweight or move up to lightweight, where he previously suffered a loss in a world title tilt.
The reality is that damage has been done. And in 2025, with high-definition replay available, it’s unacceptable that this sort of mistake slipped through the cracks. What happened to Suarez wasn’t unprecedented — but it certainly felt like a throwback to an era before modern safeguards.
At 36, Suarez continues to defy Father Time. But while he’s aging like fine wine, time is no longer his ally. He could have fast-tracked a title shot by leveraging his Olympic pedigree, yet he chose the harder path — turning professional in 2019 and earning his shot the honest way.
And for that, he was robbed.
This wasn’t just a missed call. It was a missed moment. A moment Suarez spent a lifetime chasing. A moment he trained, sacrificed, and bled for.
He fought like a champion. He deserved to be crowned like one.
Now it’s time for boxing to do right by Suarez — not just with a rematch, but with justice.
Because if there’s any justice left in this sport, Suarez will have his hand raised next time — not in protest, but in triumph.
(For comments or questions, reach the author at nissi.icasiano@gmail.com or visit his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/nissi.icasiano.)
