Boxing Analyst Slams Rules After Suarez-Navarrete Fight

Veteran boxing analyst Atty. Ed Tolentino criticized the outcome of the controversial WBO super featherweight title bout between Emanuel Navarrete and Charly Suarez, calling boxing’s rules “antiquated” after the match ended in a disputed technical decision last Sunday in San Diego, California.

The bout, Suarez’s first world title opportunity at age 36, was halted at the start of the eighth round when the referee cited an accidental headbutt as the cause of a cut on Navarrete’s forehead sustained in round six.

Because the injury was ruled unintentional, the fight went to the scorecards after seven completed rounds, awarding Navarrete a technical decision victory with scores of 78-75, 77-76, and 77-76.

Tolentino, however, asserted that the cut was not caused by a headbutt but by a clean punch thrown by Suarez.

“The evidence is clear; it was a punch from Charly Suarez that caused the cut,” Tolentino said during an interview on Sparring Sessions LIVE.

“Yes, there was a headbutt, but there was a punch first. When the glove landed, there was blood from the cut. The problem is that the ruling came first before the review. They did not wait for the video,” he added.

“Boxing is a sport with antiquated guidelines and rules. The videos are there, and yet they still do not know how to decide. I thought it was a legit punch, there was no accidental foul that would have merited a technical decision.”

Despite a competitive showing from Suarez, all three judges had Navarrete ahead at the time of the stoppage, leading to the retention of his WBO belt.

Tolentino argued that the scoring was irrelevant, saying the correct officiating should have led to a technical knockout in Suarez’s favor.

“That fight should have been stopped, and Navarrete would have lost by technical knockout. The score was immaterial because he is unfit to continue because there was no accidental foul,” he said.

According to reports, the California State Athletic Commission may review the fight and potentially overturn the outcome to a no-contest, though such rulings are rare in boxing history.

Charly Suarez, a decorated Filipino amateur and SEA Games gold medalist, entered the fight undefeated and was seeking to become a world champion for the first time.

Navarrete, a three-division world champion from Mexico, was making the second defense of his WBO super featherweight title.