VETERAN Filipino challenger Charly Suarez believes that there will be no tomorrow when he tries to wrest the World Boxing Organization junior lightweight crown from defending Mexican champion Emanuel Navarrete on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California.
“This fight is a big answered prayer for me because we trained for this fight and this is my shot. I’ve been looking for this fight for two years,” said Suarez in a report written by boxingscene.com editor Ryan Songalia posted on its website yesterday.
“The chance that they gave me, maybe tomorrow there will be no chance for me. That’s why once the opportunity came to me, I grabbed it and worked hard,” said the 36-year-old pride of San Isidro, Davao del Norte, who is undefeated in 18 fights, spiked by 10 knockouts.
“Because maybe tomorrow I won’t have an opportunity like this. So this is my time,” added the Filipino fighter backed by sportsman-business and former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson.
Six years younger than the Pinoy contender, Navarrete sports a record of 39 wins (32 KOs), two wins and one draw.
The Mexican “Vaquero” won the WBO junior lightweight strap by knocking out compatriot Oscar Valdez in the sixth round of their title clash last Dec. 7 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Suarez’s trainer and former national teammate Delfin Boholst, who helped the former to turn pro in 2018, pointed out that his ward should not be overconfident against Navarrete, who remains dangerous and has established his reputation as a volume puncher.But the Pinoy contender said that he has seen changes in the fighting style of his opponent.
“In my observation, he’s (Navarrete) different from before. There are a lot of fights, a lot of sparring, so it’s possible that he’s changed his style and power,” said Suarez.
He aims to draw from his vast experience as an outstanding amateur boxer in trying to vanquish the reigning champion.
“In this fight, I use all of my experience in the amateurs. And my team, we studied his movement, the movement of Navarrete,” Suarez, the 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist and 2014 Asian Games silver medalist, noted.
“No more excuses in the ring.”
