The curse of mandatory challenger
One would think that becoming a mandatory challenger is something every fighter looks forward to.
Generally, a mandatory challenger or compulsory challenger is next in line for a world title shot.
He gets installed as such because he had won a title elimination match, figured in a controversial fight that requires a rematch, or third, beaten enough top fighters to merit the coveted status.
Take the case of Filipino super-featherweight Charly Suarez, who is the top dog among the line of contenders in the World Boxing Organization (WBO).
If only the law had been applied, Suarez, by now, would have been either the WBO 130-pound champion or somebody trying to make his way up the rankings again.
But owing to the politics in boxing — which is one of the worst in the sporting world — pros or amateurs — Suarez is out there waiting for his turn at the winner of this weekend’s unification clash between Emanuel Navarrete of Mexico and O’Shaquie Foster of the United States.
The two are squaring off in San Antonio, Texas, for Navarrete’s WBO and International Boxing Federation (IBF) belts and Foster’s World Boxing Council strap.
Yeah, you guessed it right.
The winner is mandated to defend against Suarez by April next year.
Early this year, Suarez got the assurance that he will get his much-awaited opportunity provided that he allows Navarrete to face Eduardo Nunez — then the IBF champion — in Phoenix, Arizona.
After Navarrete got the job done, Suarez got excited and oftentimes imagined what his showdown with Navarrete would turn out.
Instead, Navarrete looked the other way and trained his sights on Foster.
In a snap, he got a deal in place to meet Foster in a three-belt clash.
Once again, Suarez was guaranteed that he would get his chance.
“Sometimes, becoming a mandatory challenger is one way of not getting a title shot. That’s just the irony of it all. Really,” said one jaded observer of the fight game.
“There’s just too much politics in boxing,” he added.
Personally, he is right.
Nowadays, all a fighter has to do is just stay busy so he can maintain his ranking in the top ten and wait for that all-important call from the champion’s camp, promoter or agent.
There is also one more factor.
A fighter sometimes has to look beatable in order to secure a world championship match.
Throughout history, Filipino fighters have excelled as huge underdogs.
Anyway, being in the top 10 or top 15 is one thing. Having someone solid looking out for you is another.
It would also help if there is a guy backing you, somebody who’s got connections.
In the case of Suarez, he’s got Sampson Lewkowicz, who is a recognizable name in world boxing.
Perhaps Lewkowicz is working behind closed doors as he attempts to grant Suarez his coveted crack at the world title.
But Suarez, who is already 38 years old, is not losing hope, believing that “my time will come.”
We’ll see what happens right after Navarrete and Foster lock horns this Sunday.
Keeping my fingers crossed.