Manila hosting Suarez-Navarrete rematch?

The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) will meet on 2 June to discuss whether the controversial eight-round technical decision win by Mexican world champion Emanuel Navarrete over Filipino Charly Suarez would be upheld or not.

The clamor for the CSAC to change the decision to a technical knockout (TKO) victory by Suarez became louder when additional television replays showed that a punch — and not an accidental clash of heads in the sixth round — was the cause of the hideous cut above Navarrete’s left eyebrow.

Referee Ed Collantes was called to stop the fight after ringside doctor Robert Ruelaz examined the wound one second into the eighth stanza of the scheduled 12-round fight at Pechanga Arena in San Diego last Sunday.

Under the rules, upon the referee’s stoppage, the outcome would have to be decided by the scorecards of the three judges.

Unfortunately, on the strength of his strong start and aggressiveness, Navarrete was leading on the scoresheets and was declared winner.

Had the referee ruled that the cut was caused by Suarez’s left straight, the Filipino’s hands would have been raised as winner by TKO.

Suarez said even if the third man didn’t stop the fight, he would have halted Navarrete in the next few rounds “because I felt that he was getting weaker.”

“Unlike early in the fight, I really felt the weight of his punches but they no longer felt heavy beginning in the sixth round because I believe that he was fading fast,” he said, recalling how Navarrete struggled making the weight on the eve of the match.

Meanwhile, there are ongoing talks involving the stakeholders of the sport, specifically from Top Rank and the Philippines, that the rematch between Suarez and Navarrete be staged during the 50th year anniversary of the Thrilla in Manila on 28 September at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.