The freakishly talented Charly Suarez makes his international debut here, and with an IBF title against Indonesia’s number one fighter just to add more spice.
But why would we expect any less from a man who is very definitely the best technical boxer that the Philippines has ever produced.
Suarez has racked up 15 wins at home at breakneck speed, and has perhaps lost 2 rounds in the process. He finished every bout unscathed and with a smile, suggesting it is all easy work for him. To add merit to this, Suarez certainly hasn’t had it easy, meeting guys like JonJon Estrada, Tomjune Mangubat, Delmar Pellio, Mark John Yap and Carlo Magali along the way. These are high skilled veterans that have a commonality – they punch with hurtful intent, yet Suarez has breezed through as if he is in a training session, picking up WBA and national titles into the bargain.
Charly Suarez moves on to another significant opponent here, Indonesia’s best fighter Defry Palulu.
This is a guy that Suarez was meant to fight in early 2020 for the WBC title, and it was a fight that the Indonesian was favoured to win. However the match was canceled due to the pandemic, and thankfully, these two great fighters get to meet in Vietnam for the IBF Asia belt.
In spite of Suarez’s amazing success as a pro, many of his countrymen doubt his ability to impact at world level. They cite his age and lack of power as the main impediments. But those close to the camp disagree!
This may interest some.
The Suarez team maintain he has lots of power, and that he had no intent on hurting his own countrymen. His Objective at home was to get valuable rounds and build a petrol tank for bigger fights abroad. Mission accomplished !
He says there will be absolutely no mercy shown to any foreign rivals, and if there is a knockout to be had, you’re going to see it in high definition !
PHILIPPINES 🇵🇭 STAR A REAL UNDERDOG
Betting markets have just gone up, and as you'd expect, Mexico's Emanuel Navarrete is quoted as an "unbeatable" favourite against the "King's Warrior" Charly Suarez.
But world boxing fans are not so well informed, and often fickle, and these opening markets offer huge value to those loyal to the chances of the Philippines' best boxer.
Here's how the two fighters line up according to BoxLive :
PREVIEW
When is Navarrete vs Suarez?
Emanuel Navarrete will face the challenge of Charly Suarez on Saturday, May 10th, 2025, at Pechanga Arena, San Diego.
The fight will be contested over 12 rounds in the Super Featherweight division, which means the weight limit will be 130 pounds (9.3 stone or 59 kg).
This contest is for the WBO super featherweight championship of the world.
FIGHTER STATS
Emanuel Navarrete steps into the ring with a record of 39 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw, 32 of those wins coming by way of knockout.
Charly Suarez will make his way to the ring with an unblemished record of 18 wins and 0 draws, with 10 of those by knockout.
The stats suggest Navarrete has a large advantage in power over Suarez, boasting a 82% knockout percentage compared to Suarez's 56%.
Emanuel Navarrete is the younger man by 6 years, at 30 years old.
Navarrete has a height advantage of 1 inch over Suarez. This also extends to a 7-inch reach advantage.
Both Emanuel Navarrete and Charly Suarez fight out of an orthodox stance.
Navarrete is the more experienced professional fighter, having had 24 more fights, and made his debut in 2012, 7 years earlier than Suarez, whose first professional fight was in 2019. He has fought 123 more professional rounds, totaling 246 compared to Suarez's 123.
Emanuel Navarrete goes into the fight ranked number 1 by The Ring at super featherweight.
Charly Suarez is currently ranked number 15 by the WBC, 1 by the WBO, and 4 by the IBF in the 130lb division.
CURRENT FORM
Navarrete has beaten 3 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 2 of them, going the distance once.
In his last fight, he beat Oscar Valdez on December 7, 2024, by knockout in the 6th round in their WBO World Junior Lightweight championship fight at Footprint Center, Phoenix, United States.
Prior to that, he had been beaten by Denys Berinchyk on May 18, 2024, by split decision in their WBO World Lightweight championship fight at Pechanga Arena, San Diego.
Going into that contest, he had drawn with Robson Conceicao on November 16, 2023, by majority draw in their 12 round contest in their WBO World Junior Lightweight championship fight at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.
Before that, he had beaten Oscar Valdez on August 12, 2023, by unanimous decision in their WBO World Junior Lightweight championship fight at Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale.
He had won against Liam Wilson on February 3, 2023, by technical knockout in the 9th round in their WBO World Junior Lightweight championship fight at Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale.
Charly Suarez (18-0, 10 KOs) had several hundred fights as an amateur, representing his homeland at the 2016 Olympics and several World Championships.
A six-year pro, he won a pair of regional titles in March 2023 when he scored a come-from-behind 12th-round stoppage over Paul Fleming on hostile turf in Sydney, Australia.
The Fleming triumph paved the way for a deal with Top Rank, and Suarez has won three straight fights in America. He knocked out Jorge Castañeda in three rounds last September, which came five months removed from a hard-fought eight-round decision over Louie Coria.
ACTIVITY CHECK
Navarrete's last 5 fights have come over a period of 2 years, 3 months and 7 days, which means he has been fighting approximately every 5 months and 14 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 51 rounds, meaning that they have lasted 10.2 rounds on average.
Navarrete will be making his 4th defense of the WBO World Junior Lightweight Championship. He won this belt against Liam Wilson in February 2023.He had held this belt for 2 years, 1 month and 23 days.
Suarez has had 2 fights in 2023, and 2 fights in 2024. His most recent was a knockout victory in September of last year against Jorge Castañeda. This will be his first attempt at the WBO World Title.
#VSPPromotions #vspboxing #vsppro #boxingvietnam #Elorde #ElordeTV
The King's Warrior will have his broken right hand in a protective cast for the next 6 weeks, but the good news is, he is expected to make a full recovery.
Suarez staged an amazing effort to stay composed after injuring the hand early in round one, and being put under constant pressure by excellent Dominican Yohan Vasquez.
It was a bitter sweet US debut for the Philippines best boxer, who will be hoping for a ring return later this year.
Despite a dominant win at his USA debut, the King's Warrior Charly Suarez was the victim of misfortune.
Suarez broke his hand early in round one, forcing him to turn to his amateur skills and box his way to victory. The Philippines star turned southpaw frequently in the bout to ensure he survived the ten rounds against his rugged opponent Yohan Vasquez.
Charly Suarez turned away a scrappy challenge from Yohan Vasquez to enjoy a successful U.S. debut. after a ten-round, unanimous decision victory over Dominican Republic’s Vazquez. Scores were 98-92, 98-92 and 97-93 for Suarez in the opening bout of the evening.
Action from bell to bell was entertaining and competitive, to the point where Vasquez (25-4, 20KOs) was disappointed when he heard the lopsided scores. Suarez landed the crisper combinations and cleaner punches but was forced to fend off Vasquez who effectively cut off the ring in the middleweights.
Suarez—a 35-year-old from General Santos City, Philippines—regained control late in the fight to advance to 16-0 (9KOs). The bout was his third straight on the road, having previously posted wins in Vietnam last December and a come-from-behind 12th round stoppage of unbeaten Paul Fleming on March 15 in Sydney, Australia.
The King's Warrior Charly Suarez has just completed his preparations in Las Vegas for this Sunday’s fight, and reports he is in killer shape and more than ready to fight.
Suarez will battle Dominican Yohan Vasquez 25-2, a hard hitter with 22 knockouts on his resume.
The Davao son was able to get some fast paced rounds in with both sons of fabled Ferocious Fernando Vargas, and also share the ring with Chris Eubank jr (pictured). Prior to that, the champ worked with Philippines national team members back home in Baguio.
Despite the calibre of his opponent, and the question marks surrounding his first bout in the US, Suarez will enter the ring a heavy favourite to put opponent Vasquez to the sword.
Suarez v Vasquez will take place at the Hard Rock Casino in Tulsa Oklahoma this Sunday.
CEBU CITY, Philippines– Charly Suarez, the unbeaten and world-rated super featherweight contender nicknamed “King’s Warrior” will debut in the United States on August 26, 2023.
The 34-year-old Olympian turned professional boxer will face Dominican Republic’s Yohan Vasquez in a non-title bout at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
This will be Suarez’s first fight in five months. His most recent bout was nothing short of impressive as he wrested three regional titles and earned a world title bout.
Last March 15, he went to Sydney Australia to challenge the erstwhile International Boxing Federation (IBF) Inter-Continental, International Boxing Organization (IBO) Inter-Continental, and World Boxing Council (WBC) Asia super featherweight king Paul Fleming.
The Filipino scored a technical knockout in the 12th round against Fleming for a resounding upset.
The victory catapulted Suarez to No. 7 in the IBF super featherweight division, No. 10 in the World Boxing Organization (WBO), and No. 15 in the WBC.
He remains unbeaten with 15 wins and nine knockouts. Besides the three regional titles, Suarez is also the IBF Asia super featherweight king.
Meanwhile, Vasquez, 29, has a more experienced record. The former Dominican Republic lightweight champion holds a record of 25 wins, 20 knockouts, and three defeats.
*story courtesy Cebu Daily News
SUAREZ IN VEGAS PREP FOR AUGUST RETURN
The King's Warrior Charly Suarez is enjoying quality sparring in Las Vegas in preparation for a ring return later this month.
Davao boxer Suarez (15-0) will head to Oklahoma to take on Yohan Vasquez (25-3) in a ten round non title contest.
The match represents a "stay busy" bout for Suarez, who was last seen fighting in Australia in March.
He won in spectacular fashion on that occasion, defeating unbeaten champion Paul Fleming by last round knockout, and picking up 4 regional titles in the process.
Take a trip down memory lane !
Hanoi Vietnam October 2019, and last night's big winner Nguyễn Văn Hải fights an exhibition bout with world title mandatory Charly Suarez.
Cracking bout showcasing two of Asia's best !!!
Philippines star boxer was celebrated by none other than President BongBong Marcos today at an awards ceremony in Manila.
Also acknowledged for their outstanding achievements were world champion boxers Melvin Jerusalem and Marlon Tapales.
Charly Suarez recently ventured to Australia to take on a man who VSP regarded as that country's best 130lb fighter - Paul "Showtime" Fleming.
The match was as exciting and dramatic as expected, with Suarez clinching victory courtesy of a last round knockout.
But despite the quality of that encounter, there are those in Australia less than convinced.
The feedback was that perhaps Fleming was "faded", that maybe Suarez got lucky, with even some there referring to the Philippines' best as a "cab driver !"
The overwhelming sentiment is that these two great fighters would be no match for a younger and more powerful Liam Wilson.
Queensland star Liam Wilson was responsible for the knockout of former top Philippines 130lb Joe Noynay, and despite a loss, consolidated his fearsome reputation with a cracking display against Emanuel Navarrete just recently.
In an ominous show of power, Wilson rag dolled Navarrete and became the first man in the world to drop the staunch WBO champ.
Impressive stuff, and for Wilson, there are surely big wins ahead.
But Charly Suarez is far and away the best boxer in the Philippines right now, so for Wilson, he represents another significant but exciting challenge.
So how about it NO LIMIT,
let's fight our two roosters and let's see who comes out victorious !!!!
This is a huge fight for Australia, and for sure, for betting shops, as everyone in the Philippines will be putting their cash on the "cab driver" from Davao !
Paul Fleming is arguably the most talented fighter that Australia has ever produced, and he carried an unbeaten record of 28-0 to the ring when he recently took on Charly Suarez in Sydney.
The Aussie champ put four titles on the line, and a world title eliminator was also up for grabs.
In what was a cracking contest, Fleming brought all his trademark energy and flair. The man known as "Showtime" is renowned for making great fights, his previous effort having been voted Australia's best of the year in 2022.
Suarez waits for notification from the Fleming team as to whether they wish to option a rematch clause in their contract.
VSP boxers Charly Suarez and Nguyễn Văn Hải are arguably the best fighters that their respective countries have ever produced.
The two are friends from their days as national team amateurs, and they even fought in an exhibition mstch at Victory8 in Hanoi in 2019.
Last night in Sydney, Charly Suarez moved a step closer to his world title dream with a knockout win over Australian Paul "Showtime" Fleming, an unbeaten star unbeaten in 28 fights.
Nguyễn Văn Hải is rapidly climbing in the professional ranks also. The "Hanoi Hitman" has 3 wins, and will be looking to add to his tally at VSP PRO on Saturday March 25th.
SUAREZ CAPTURES FOUR BELTS
The King's Warrior Charly Suarez has just walked in to Kevin Betts Stadium in Sydney.
Suarez v Fleming coming soon!
*story courtesy of Manila Standard
Former Olympian Charly Suarez has vowed to go all out against fellow undefeated Paul Fleming of Australia in their International Boxing Organization super featherweight title bout on Wednesday in Sydney, Australia.
"Pambihira lang itong ganitong pagkakataon. Ito na talaga chance ko,” said Suarez, who at 34 cannot afford to be delayed any longer in his quest for a world boxing title. “Ang totoo kong kalaban is sarili ko. Kahit saang larangan, malaking part ‘yung maturity. Iba ka nang mag-isip kaysa dati.”
“Basta ako lalaban ako at dapat makuha ko ito. Ito na ‘yung level ng mindset ko ngayon. ‘Di ko na pakakawalan, wala ng excuse,” added Suarez, a former Filipino Olympian, who spent most of his boxing career as a national athlete.
After beating all his first 14 opponents, eight of them via stoppage, Suarez is facing his toughest test in his two-year professional boxing career—a taller foe, who has 29 wins with 18 knockouts and without a defeat.
Suarez’s manager and coach Delfin Boholst said they have done everything in their training camp to make Charly stronger than ever.
“Makikita natin si Charly may edad na pero, ‘yung body niya sariwa. Sa laban makikita niyo talaga ‘yung ginawa namin na preparation ni Charly,” he said.
Without the backing of a moneyed manager and promoter, Suarez’s camp turned to friends and supporters for their needs. Some of those who answered their plea for support were former Philippine National Police chief Gen. Debold Sinas and businessman-philanthropist Edward Aguilar.
Sinas and Aguilar, who are close friends and partners in several business ventures, provided financial support for training and other needs of Suarez.
Suarez is coming off a big conquest of the International Boxing Federation Asia junior lightweight title with a technical knockout win over Defry Palulu of Indonesia at the Grand Ho Tram Hotel in Vietnam last Dec. 10.
Two months earlier, the many-time Southeast Asian Games champion decisioned compatriot Carlo Magali to successfully defend the World Boxing Association Asia Super Featherweight title.
As an amateur, Suarez won three Southeast Asian Games golds—two in the lightweight division (2011 Jakarta, 2019 Manila) and one in the featherweight category (2009 Laos)—plus a bronze in 2017 in Kuala Lumpur.
Meanwhile, the left-handed Fleming said he won’t be underestimating Suarez as he has set a fight strategy that suits him against a smaller opponent.
“If Suarez comes at me, I have a counter-punching strategy, and if he stays away then I will come at him,” the Australian said.
SUAREZ FLEMING Media Day
Shirts off, smiles all around as the Philippines Charly Suarez and Aussie Paul Fleming meet for the first time today in Sydney.
story courtesy BoxingTalk.com
Australia’s undefeated indigenous boxer Paul Fleming is on a mission to win his next three fights and set up the opportunity to capture a 130-pound title. After years of low activity (three fights since the start of 2019), Fleming's next step takes place in St. Marys, Sydney on March 15th when he faces undefeated Filipino challenger Charly Suarez. Fleming comes from the small town of Tully in outback northern Australia where he first started boxing at age 12 in 2001.
Fleming (29-0-1) finds himself carrying on the tradition of past Australian indigenous boxers such as Aboriginal boxing legend Lionel Rose who unified the world titles (1964-76), superstar rugby league players and champions of the boxing ring Tony Mundine and his son Anthony Mundine Jr., Dave Sands inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame as “the greatest boxers never to have won a world title”, 2005 world champion Robert Peden, Wally Carr, who competed in six divisions over a stellar fifteen-year career, and Daniel Geale who won two titles before losing to Gennady Golovkin at Madison Square in 2014.
While Fleming takes confidence from his unbeaten streak, he accepts as “a matter of fact” that he has been ignored on the international stage. “By now I should have become a world champion. I see it as the way of the boxing world, and the cards didn’t fall my way. But I feel my destiny is in the winning circle, as the coming world champion.“
As for Suarez (14-0), Fleming says, “Suarez, like me, hasn’t been beaten. This is where our paths come together – here in Sydney – and I am ready.”
The left-handed Fleming said he won’t be underestimating Suarez, who is 34 years old and almost 4 inches shorter in size. “All my fights have been about fighting with a winning strategy,” he asserts. “If Suarez comes at me I have a counter punching strategy, and if he stays away then I will come at him.”
Fleming has spent several months sparring with top Aussies, including the Maloney brothers. “Neither of us held back while sparring.” he said after some competitive rounds with Andrew Moloney.
But Fleming knows that the window is closing for him to win a world title. "What’s been so good for me in boxing is that I have not been beaten, not once. I haven’t been bashed, and I have gained a lot of experience. I’ve fought against the best in Australia and now it’s time to break out and take on the best in the world... after this the world title will be one big step closer.”
Set to be Australia's very best fight of 2023.
The match up of the Philippines and Australia's two unbeaten champions.
Paul "Showtime" Fleming 28-0 goes head to head with the King's Warrior Charly Suarez 14-0 for the IBF, WBC, WBA and IBO belts.
Wednesday March 15th in Sydney Australia.
The King's Warrior Charly Suarez has touched down in Sydney ahead of his clash of "Philippines Best v Australia's Best" next Wednesday night March 15th.
Suarez takes on gun Aussie Paul Fleming 28-0 for four belts, including what are likely IBF and IBO World title eliminators.
The Philippines star got some rounds in at Bondi Boxing Club with former world champion TJ Doheny. The Irish star will face off with Sam Goodman as the main undercard to the Tszyu-Harrison event in Sydney this Sunday.
And what was the gossip that came from the "friendly" sparring between Suarez and Doheny?
"Goodman is in for one helluva fight !"
CHARLY SUAREZ OFFICIALLY "DOWN UNDER"
The King's Warrior Charly Suarez has touched down in Sydney ahead of his clash of "Philippines Best v Australia's Best" next Wednesday night March 15th.
Suarez takes on gun Aussie Paul Fleming 28-0 for four belts, including what are likely IBF and IBO World title eliminators.
The Philippines star got some rounds in at Bondi Boxing Club with former world champion TJ Doheny. The Irish star will face off with Sam Goodman as the main undercard to the Tszyu-Harrison event in Sydney this Sunday.
And what was the gossip that came from the "friendly" sparring between Suarez and Doheny?
"Goodman is in for one helluva fight !"
Watch live on fite.tv
https://www.fite.tv/watch/fleming-vs-suarez/2pcqh/
The word is that Australian Paul Fleming has been on fire in training, and has been shredding sparring partners in advance of his huge clash with Charly Suarez on March 15th.
So much so that Team Fleming has been forced to bring some big names into camp in order to be pitch perfect for Suarez.
George Kambosos has done rounds, and now former world champ Andrew Maloney is the latest to lend his skills. The boys did some high quality rounds this week and Fleming really impressed.
The Aussie star will spar again with Maloney this Sunday as part of a public workout to promote the impending battle with Suarez.
There is huge confidence coming from those close to Fleming that he will not only hand the whiz kid Suarez his first defeat, it will come by way of stoppage.
Paul "Showtime" Fleming is unbeaten in 28 fights, with 18 of those wins coming by way of KNOCKOUT.
Australian champion Paul Fleming 28-0 meets Philippines freak talent Charly Suarez 14-0
Wednesday March 15th Sydney
Philippines best Charly Suarez goes head to head with Australia’s best Paul "Showtime" Fleming.
Wednesday March 15th Sydney Australia
Philippines star Charly Suarez heads to Australia next month to take on the unbeaten local champion Paul Fleming (28-0)
Suarez was an acclaimed amateur, and despite a relatively recent transition to the pro ranks, the King's Warrior has already racked up 14 impressive wins.
And identical to Fleming, the Davao fighter also retains an unbeaten record.
But what seems astounding about Suarez is that, for a boxer with such a wealth of amateur experience, he has improved markedly since turning pro.
So much so, he actually appears to be an even better prospect at the longer round format.
That said, Suarez was touted as the "next big thing" when he decided to finally go pro, and here is some ringside action taken from the first professional performance of Charly Suarez.
He shows all that dynamism that he is renowned for, and it will give you some insight as to what Australia will be getting come March 15th.
https://www.facebook.com/VSPPromotions/videos/527622426120815
Friday training at Elorde Southbox , and there were three really good ones in the ring today !
King's Warrior Charly Suarez, MMA prospect Ian Batoto, and the Silencer Arnel Baconaje engaged in light sparring for upcoming bouts.
Baconaje heads to GenSan this week for a crack at the Philippines national belt on Sunday February 26th.
Charly Suarez has a big assignment if his own. He heads to Sydney very soon, where he will challenge Aussie #1 Paul Fleming for four major belts. A win places Suarez in the world top 10 with three of those, and perhaps makes him mandatory for both IBF and IBO world titles.
Exciting fights coming up !
The King's Warrior Charly Suarez is ready to take on Australia's best, and heading for a world title.
Charly Suarez (14-0) v Paul Fleming (28-0)
Wednesday March 15th Sydney Australia
This is genuine BEST v BEST !!!!
Bacolod's Genesis Servania will fight China's rising star Aketelieti Yelejian for the WBO Asia Lightweight title this November.
The highly-anticipated match up will take place on the undercard of the IBF world title fight between Pedro Taduran and Zhu DianXing at Jeju Island, South Korea.
Aketelieti Yelejian, who suffered a narrow loss to the Prince Albert Pagara in June, rebounded with an impressive IBF Asia victory against Korean Jin Su Kim in Vietnam recently. He is a very rangy and deceptive boxer known for his relaxed combinations, and he's supremely confident in his ability to take down Servania and claim the title.
"I've studied Servania's style, and I know I have the skills to outmaneuver him," Yelejian said yesterday.
"I'm excited to represent China on the international stage once more, and bring home an impressive win against a top and proven boxer like Genesis."
Servania, a seasoned veteran with a 35-4 record, boasts a reputation for toughness that has come from battles at the top level. And has still possesses some of the best body shots in the sport of boxing.
This important title shot gives the filipino the opportunity to re-establish himself on the world scene once more, and it's best remembered that his only defeats have came against world-ranked champions like Oscar Valdez and Andres Cortes.
But the China team have already confidently stated that Yelejian's youth, speed, height, and reach may all prove too much for the Filipino boxer.
Their optimism also exudes for the world title bout, where surprisingly, they are quite dismissive of Pedro Taduran's hopes of beating star Zhu DianXing. They actually rate their boxer so highly, they have predicted that the champion has no chance of retaining the belt.
These claims set up an intriguing backdrop for two massive Philippines v China feature bouts.
Fight Details :
- Date: Saturday, November 23rd
- Location: Jeju Island, South Korea
- Title: WBO Asia Lightweight
- Contenders: Aketelieti Yelejian (China) vs. Genesis Servania (Philippines)