Philippines, 17 Jun 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Navarrete Retains WBO Title via Controversial Technical Decision Over Suarez


PhilBoxing.com





Emanuel "Vaquero" Navarrete (40-2-1, 32 KOs) retained his WBO super featherweight title in a chaotic and controversial bout against Filipino challenger Charly Suarez (18-1, 10 KOs) at Pechanga Arena in San Diego Saturday night (Sunday in Manila). The fight was halted at the start of the eighth round due to a severe cut over Navarrete’s left eyebrow, leading to a technical decision victory for the Mexican champion.

Referee Edward Collantes, upon the advice of the ringside physician, stopped the contest at one second of the eighth round, as Navarrete’s corner failed to control the bleeding from a gash sustained in Round 6. The cut was initially ruled an accidental headbutt, a decision upheld by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) after reviewing video footage. However, ESPN’s broadcast team, utilizing 15 different camera angles, suggested the wound was caused by a punch—which, if confirmed, would have awarded Suarez a technical knockout victory.



The judges’ scorecards — 78-75 (Pat Russell) and 77-76 twice (Lou Moret, Fernando Villarreal) — all favored Navarrete at the time of the stoppage, allowing him to retain his title. Had the cut been deemed punch-induced, Suarez would have been declared the winner, marking a stunning upset in his first world title bid.

The fight was a back-and-forth war, with both men having moments of dominance:

- Rounds 1-3: Navarrete started aggressively, bloodying Suarez’s nose early with relentless volume punching. However, the Filipino Olympian adjusted well, countering effectively in Rounds 2 and 3 to even the scorecards .
- Rounds 4-5: Navarrete regained control with heavy body shots and uppercuts, visibly hurting Suarez and appearing to pull ahead on the cards.
- Round 6: The turning point came when a fierce exchange opened a deep cut over Navarrete’s left eye. Suarez capitalized, buckling the champion with sharp counters as blood streamed into Navarrete’s vision .
- Round 7: Despite impaired sight, Navarrete fought desperately, swinging wildly for a knockout while Suarez boxed smartly, seemingly stealing the round before the stoppage.

After the cut sustained by Navarrete, the fight momentum swung clearly in Suarez's favor as Navarrete could not see clearly and kept on wiping the blood that drips to his left eye.

During the post fight interview Navarrete acknowledged the cut changed the fight: "The blood was too much. I couldn’t see. I wanted to keep going, but the doctor made the right call." He also praised Suarez’s toughness, calling him a warrior who deserved this opportunity".



Suarez, though disappointed, accepted the verdict but hinted at a rematch: "I thought I was coming on strong. The cut was from my punches, but the judges saw it differently. I want a rematch."

Team Suarez could request the Commission to review the cut again from additional footages coming from ESPN's cameras and hope to overturn the verdict at least into a no contest or to force a rematch as the result was controversial and inconclusive.



Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Perfect foe, perfect outcome
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 17 Jun 2025
  • Prospects Collide Results: Rajon Chance Defeats Yan Carlos Perez
    , Tue, 17 Jun 2025
  • Undefeated Russian super middleweight Petr “The Surgeon” Khamukov to headline This Friday in Long Beach on DAZN
    , Tue, 17 Jun 2025
  • International Boxing & MMA Consultants Appointed to serve as El Salvador Professional Combat Sport Commission
    , Tue, 17 Jun 2025
  • Sasotize teams champion and 1st runner up in 2nd JCI Senate Chess Tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 17 Jun 2025
  • USA Boxing’s Elite High Performance Team Concluded World Boxing Championship 2025 With Nine Medals
    , Mon, 16 Jun 2025
  • "The Filipino Flash" Nonito Donaire Makes Stunning Comeback, Wins Interim WBA 118-lbs Title in Argentina!! (PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Jun 2025
  • DAZN is Set to Make Exciting Debut in Thailand with Thrilling Dream Boxing/Highland Boxing Show
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Jun 2025
  • Hitchins Dominates, Stops Kambosos Jr. in Eighth Round to Retain IBF Super Lightweight Title
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 15 Jun 2025
  • THAI SIMSRI READY FOR CHRISTIAN ARANETA IN IBF WORLD TITLE SHOWDOWN THURSDAY IN JAPAN; WILL THE CEBUANO “BOMB” STOP HIM?
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Jun 2025
  • Pinoy Power! Pacquiao, Donaire, and Araneta Ready to Shine in World Title Fights
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Jun 2025
  • “PROSPECTS COLLIDE” TAKES CENTER STAGE
    , Sun, 15 Jun 2025
  • Nonito Donaire Favorite to Beat Andrés Campos for WBA Interim World Title; Both Men Make Weight Ready in Argentina!
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Oklahoma Forces 2-2 Finals Series Tie, Starves Indiana for Point in 111-104 Win
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • PROSPECTS COLLIDE OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS
    , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Hitchins vs. Kambosos: Can George Be More Than A Faded Name?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Four Boxers Advance to Gold Medal Matches on Day Three of World Boxing Challenge Grand Prix Usti Nad Labem
    , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM NEW YORK: HITCHINS - 140 LBS., KAMBOSOS - 139.4 LBS.
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Gaviola to face Narukami in Gensan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Pacquiao Steps Up Training
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Balla stops Cabalquinto in 4th round
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Eight-year-old Marius Constante sweeps 5-round chess fest in Cebu
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Promoter Sampson Lewkowicz and Top Lightweight Contender Edwin De Los Santos Part Ways Amicably
    , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Unification WBA & IBA Pro title fight Albert Batyrgaziev vs James Dickens to crown boxing show in Istanbul on 2 July
    , Fri, 13 Jun 2025
  • How the Ring's P4P Ranking Has Strayed from the Norms of Nat and Nigel
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 13 Jun 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.