Scandal at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, where Filipino challenger Charly Suarez was unjustly denied victory against WBO super featherweight world champion Emanuel Navarrete. The bout, part of a Top Rank event, was stopped at the beginning of the eighth round by technical decision after the ringside doctor deemed the champion unable to continue due to a cut that referee Edward Collantes had wrongly attributed to an accidental headbutt. The judges’ scorecards, read after the stoppage, awarded Navarrete a unanimous decision with scores of 77–76, 78–75, and 77–76.
The opening round highlighted a stark difference in the psychological approach of the two fighters. While Suarez appeared tense and moved frenetically, Navarrete looked confident, swinging wide shots from a distance with little concern for defense.
A solid right hand from the champion briefly buckled Suarez’s legs in the opening round, but from that point on, the fight settled into a balanced rhythm. Navarrete stood out for the heavier impact of his single punches, while the challenger relied on volume to make up for his power deficit.
The decorated Mexican fighter tried to assert his dominance in the fourth round, unleashing his trademark two-handed combinations and forcing Suarez to retreat more than once. But the Filipino remained composed and in the next round switched stances frequently to confuse his aggressive opponent.
The pivotal moment came at the start of the sixth round. A loaded left hook from Suarez landed flush near Navarrete’s left eyebrow just as he attempted to slip it. Moments later, blood was streaming from the Mexican’s face due to a deep but narrow cut caused by the punch.
However, referee Edward Collantes immediately ruled the injury the result of an accidental clash of heads, and although instant replay was in effect, it was deemed not clear enough to overturn the call. On review, the fighters’ heads did slightly graze each other just after the punch, which was enough for the ruling to stand.
The fight continued for a couple more rounds, with Navarrete clearly bothered by the cut, frequently touching his face with his glove, while Suarez, realizing this was the opportunity of a lifetime, pressed forward relentlessly. The seventh round was particularly strong for the Filipino, as the champion struggled to keep him at bay.
Just seconds into the eighth, the ringside doctor decided the fight could not go on. The decision raised many eyebrows—not only because the cut had not worsened compared to previous rounds, but also because its slightly off-center position didn’t seem particularly dangerous. On U.S. soil, we’ve seen fighters allowed to continue with far worse cuts.
It’s hard not to suspect that Suarez’s excellent momentum in the seventh round—when he seemed on the verge of taking control—played a role in the decision to halt the bout and let the judges have their say before the tide could fully turn.
There is no argument to be made against the scorecards: I myself had Navarrete up by a single point at the stoppage. Still, Charly Suarez has every right to feel robbed, as the premature stoppage should have resulted in his being declared the winner by technical knockout. The bitterness is compounded by the fact that Suarez is 36 years old and may not get another chance to realize his dream of becoming a world champion.
Let’s hope that the WBO, under new president Gustavo Olivieri—who has promised integrity and transparency from day one—forces Navarrete to grant the Filipino an immediate rematch. It would be the only fair decision, at least giving Suarez a proper shot at climbing to the top without having to queue up again in the rankings.
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