Uncrowned champion: Suarez overjoyed by show of support

There is no timeline yet for Charly Suarez’s desire and wish to get another shot at Mexican Emanuel Navarrete, a senior Top Rank official told DAILY TRIBUNE on Monday.

“Way too early to put any timeframe on this,” said Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti a day after the controversial ending to Suarez’s bold bid to knock the World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-featherweight crown off Navarrete.

A nasty gash just above Navarrete’s left eyebrow — thought to be caused by an accidental clash of heads in the sixth round — forced referee Ed Collantes to call a halt to the scheduled 12-rounder in the eighth round at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California.

But television replays from multiple angles revealed that the hideous wound was caused by Suarez’s left straight, and not from what Collantes ruled as a butt.

As the bleeding got worse, Collantes was compelled to stop the fight just a second into the eighth stanza upon the recommendation of ringside physician Robert Ruelaz, who examined the cut.

Had Collantes called it right — a punch and not a butt that caused the cut — Suarez should have won the eight on a technical knockout and ran away with the WBO 130-lb strap.

Instead, the fight had to go to the scorecards based on rules and all three judges — Pat Russell, Lou Moret and Fernando Villareal — had Navarrete ahead at the time of the stoppage.

Still, Suarez, 36, fighting for the first time in a world title fight, readily accepted the decision, saying it’s all part of the game.

But despite the loss, Suarez swore that instead of being let down, he was energized by the tremendous response of the fight fans.

“In the end, my loss turned into a positive because the world all saw how I handled myself against a fighter like Navarrete,” he said from Las Vegas where he will be staying until he boards a flight to Manila from Los Angeles.

“I am sad because I didn’t win the title but I am happy because I showed the world what I am capable of doing aside from making new fans and earning the respect of boxing fans.”

The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) is expected to issue a ruling soon owing to the controversial ending.

Word has it that from a victory by Navarrete, the result could be a No Contest.

Moretti stressed that “steps and procedure have to be taken first for it (rematch) to get ordered.”

“Then we’ll take it from there.”

Meanwhile, Suarez and chief trainer Delfin Boholst are arriving in Manila on Friday morning in time for a press conference his benefactor, Ilocos politician and businessman Luis “Chavit” Singson, is going to hold in recognition of his gallant stand against the heavily-favored Navarrete.