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| California is now looking to turn the controversal Charly Suarez-Emanuel Navarrete bout into a no-contest as video replays backed Suarez's claim that it was a punch that wounded Navarrete. Top Rank |
MANILA—The controversial ending to the Charly Suarez-Emanuel Navarrete clash on Sunday (Philippine Time) made boxing fans abuzz, and the California State Athletic Association is planning to intervene.
As reported by Boxing Scene's Lance Pugmire, the CSAC is expected to make moves to change the verdict from a technical decision win in favor of the Mexican boxing champ to a no-contest.
Once formalized, an immediate rematch can be ordered between Navarrete and Suarez.
During the sixth round, Navarette's left eyebrow was busted, and it has been ruled that it came from an accidental collision of heads as the fight was halted before the eighth round and decided by the judges’ scorecards, awarding him a 78-75, 77-76, 77-76 technical decision nod to retain his WBO junior lightweight belt.
However, replay showed that the cut was from a solid Suarez left sneaking right into the face of Navarrete, and the Filipino challenger should have been hailed as the new champion via technical knockout after ringside physician Dr. Robert Ruelaz decided that Navarrete is unable to continue.
Suarez admitted that he got confused when referee Edward Collantes called it a night following Ruelaz's immediate check-up, thinking that he got the TKO win.
"I was confused a little bit because I think it's not a headbutt but if you can see the replay, I threw a wild southpaw shot in his eye," Suarez said during the post-fight interviews.
Navarrete, though, insisted that a headbutt caused the bleeding and not Suarez's haymaker.
"I felt that it was a headbutt. I saw the review. It seemed like a punch, but it pretty much exploded two layers of skin with the headbutt," Navarrete said in Spanish.
He added that he would have insisted on still giving it a go despite the heavy bleeding and that he is open to say yes to an immediate rematch.
Chavit Singson, Suarez’s manager, expressed his disappointment and felt that his boxer was robbed with the decision.
“Clear punch. Maliwanag pa sa sikat ng araw dito sa Pilipinas. Charly was robbed of a victory and boxing fans, even non-Filipinos, know that. We will file an appeal. Charly deserves the win and the world title,” Singson stated, although it was not clear if Suarez's camp will insist on completely overturning the bout into a TKO win for him.
An insider from the Suarez's camp said that it might clarify its next steps to the media once he returns from San Diego.
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