Charly Suarez is 36 years old.
That’s pretty old for someone who is fighting and challenging for a world title.
But the 2016 Rio Olympics veteran is a young 36.
He doesn’t stay up late. He doesn’t drink and doesn’t smoke. He is not the type to party all night.
In fact, Suarez is so plain and simple that he is Dunkin’s entry-level donut variant: Sugar raised.
A couple of days ago, word came out that he has been tapped by Top Rank to challenge Mexico’s mean fighting machine Emanuel Navarrete for the World Boxing Organization super-featherweight title on 10 May at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California.
“He’s gonna get wrecked,” a friend of mine told me.
“A very tough fight,” said another one of my boxing friends.
You see, Filipino boxers are no stranger to the rampaging Navarrete.
Among his knockout victims include Glenn Porras and Jhun Gemino and Juan Miguel Elorde and Jeo Santisima in world title fights.
A holder of a formidable 39-2-1 win-loss-draw record with 32 knockouts, Navarrete is heavily favored to run roughshod over Suarez, who sports an 18-0-0 card with 10 knockouts.
Both Navarrete and Suarez are promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc.
But Navarrete is TR’s fair-haired boy.
Suarez, who turned professional at the ripe age of 30, is being handled by Ilocos Sur politician, businessman and sportsman Luis “Chavit” Singson, who helped the fighter get a TR contract in 2023.
Singson is no stranger to Arum, who frequented the Philippines during the peak of Manny Pacquiao’s career.
One time, he sent his private plane to ferry Arum to General Santos City from Manila as the Hall of Fame promoter was set to hold talks with the eight-division legend.
That left an indelible mark on Arum, who realized that Singson was a major personage in the Philippines.
As for Suarez, don’t count him out.
The guy’s determined to knock the WBO crown off Navarrete’s head.
He’s brave, always in shape and has a solid skill set.
The odds may be stacked against him but remember that the 130-lb division holds a special place for Philippine boxing.
It was the domain of Flash Elorde in the 1960s. Ben Villaflor likewise reigned for a time in the 1970s.
And of course, if you’re a true blue sports fan, you know that Rolando Navarrete likewise reigned as champion back in the 1980s.
The division is dear to Philippine boxing and a solid track record should make Suarez even more upbeat that he could do it, too.