Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum isn’t so sure about Mexican banger Emanuel Navarrete’s defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-featherweight crown on 10 May in San Diego, California.
For one, Navarrete has been blowing hot and cold.
“He is inconsistent,” Arum told DAILY TRIBUNE on Sunday from Las Vegas where a big fight is taking place the next day starring pound-for-pound king Naoya “Monster” Inoue.
Number two, Navarrete’s opponent — Filipino Charly Suarez — is someone not to take for granted, according to the Top Rank chief.
“I will be there (in San Diego),” added the 93-year-old Harvard-educated lawyer.
Suarez, unbeaten in 18 fights with 10 knockouts, arrived in the United States last 21 April after spending the major part of his training in the Tagaytay City vacation home cum gym of his benefactor, Ilocos Sur political bigwig Luis “Chavit” Singson.
Navarrete, who has beaten all four Filipinos by knockout, is heavily favored to repulse the challenge of his 36-year-old challenger at the Pechanga Arena.
But Suarez swears he didn’t make the long trip to America to serve as cannon fodder.
Providing pointers to Suarez when the bell rings is longtime national team buddy Delfin Boholst.