Charly Suarez and his camp believe that Top Rank is not giving the Filipino fighter a fair shake as the Las Vegas-based promotional outfit appears poised to hold another fight without their consent.

Ricardo Navalta, tasked to represent Suarez by chief benefactor Luis “Chavit” Singson, insists that a planned unification bout between Emanuel Navarrete and fellow Mexican Eduardo Nuñez on 28 February in Arizona is a low blow.

Navarrete, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-featherweight champion, owes Suarez a rematch on the strength of a ruling made by California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) that overturned an earlier technical decision win by the Mexican into a No-Contest.

Even the WBO maintained that Navarrete is mandated to give Suarez a rematch.

“We respect the sport, but the mandatory challenger cannot be moved aside while unification plans advance. The ABC (Association of Boxing Commissions) rule is clear, CSAC’s ruling is clear, and the WBO’s order is clear. What’s not clear is why we have received no response while another fight is being planned without our agreement,” Navalta said.

Navalta stressed that the ABC regulatory guideline is as clear as day.

“When a cut is produced by a legal punch and the fight is stopped because of that cut, the injured boxer shall lose by technical knockout.”

That’s exactly what happened during the Navarrete-Suarez clash last May in San Diego, California, where a left blow by Suarez opened a bad cut on Navarrete’s left eyebrow.

Referee Ed Collantes made a terrible mistake in ruling that a clash of heads — and not a punch — had caused the cut.

At the time of the stoppage, the scorecards had Navarrete ahead: 77-76, 78-75 and 77-76.

Suarez feels it is but right that Top Rank honors the CSAC and the WBO’s ruling.

“I’m ready to fight. I earned the rematch, and all I want is the chance the WBO already granted,” said the 37-year-old Suarez.

Chief trainer Delfin Boholst, Suarez’s long-time teammate during their national team days, is calling for Top Rank to just abide by the CSAC and the WBO.

“CSAC made it clear the cut came from a clean punch. Under US rules that’s a TKO. The WBO ordered the rematch, and we are simply asking for the process to be respected.”

But Carl Moretti, the vice president for operation of Top Rank, swears his company is not on shaky ground.

“He is the mandatory challenger — but a unification bout will supersede that status — as per WBO rules,” Moretti told DAILY TRIBUNE in an emailed message.

“I don’t know what else he will do or ask for — if he doesn’t want to accept the offer for a January fight as well (step aside) that is their choice,” he added.