Phl boxing raises howl over Suarez defeat

Controversy marred Charly Suarez’s bold bid to win the World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-featherweight title on Sunday in San Diego, California.

Instead of snatching the WBO 130-pound crown from Emanuel Navarrete of Mexico by stoppage, Suarez and his team wound up getting the raw end of the deal when the scheduled 12-rounder was ruled a technical decision victory for the defending champion in the eighth round.

Had it not been for referee Ed Collantes’ wrong ruling — calling an accidental clash of heads in the sixth round — Suarez would have been the new WBO 130-pound champion.

The ringside doctor finally advised Collantes to call a halt to the fight just after the bell sounded for round eight after examining the wound for the third time.

Since Collantes ruled it an accidental clash of heads, the fight had to go to the scorecards to determine the winner as per rules.

Unfortunately for Suarez, all three judges had the ultra-aggressive Navarrete ahead, preventing him from scoring a huge upset over one of Top Rank’s fair-haired boys.

The bum verdict didn’t sit well with the Philippine boxing community.

“Para sa PUSO ng mga FILIPINO panalo ka Kuya Charly Suarez,” wrote Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist and ex-national team pal Eumir Marcial on his social media account, adding that Suarez was robbed of the win.

“Suntok, wala ulo,” cried former world champion Jerwin Ancajas, who was with Marcial and several other Filipino fighters watching from their Las Vegas training facility.

Chad Canares, the former high-ranking executive of ALA Boxing, also raised a howl over the dubious decision.

“It’s sad the sport has become a joke. Not that it hasn’t been one. It’s gone worse,” he said.

Barcelona Olympics bronze medalist Roel Velasco, who spent many years with Suarez in the national team, said “Charly Suarez you are the winner.”

Cebu trainer Brix Flores said the fight should have been awarded to Suarez.

“It wasn’t a head butt but a punch. Should have been a TKO (win),” the 1986 Seoul Asian Games bronze medalist said.

“The least Top Rank can do is arrange a rematch as soon as possible between Navarrete and Suarez. That’s the only way to erase what the inept referee did declaring a head butt but it really was a clean punch. Even the TV replays showed it,” barked orthodontist Ed dela Vega, who used to serve as Manny Pacquiao’s curman.