Fresh from a spectacular 12-round stoppage win, Filipino top prospect Charly Suarez is assured of a crack at the International Boxing Organization super featherweight title, but his camp is looking at the more prestigious International Boxing Federation belt.
“Ang sure, IBO world title. Pero ‘pag in-offer sa amin ang IBF, ‘yun ang kukunin namin,” said Suarez’s coach-manager Delfin Boholst, moments after his ward scored a technical knockout victory over formerly unbeaten Paul Fleming on Wednesday night in Sydney Australia.
Suarez, 34, is expected to improve his no. 8 ranking in the IBF’s junior lightweight (130 lbs) division, which could give him another title eliminator for the chance to meet champion Shavkat Rakhimov of Tajikistan.
“Aakyat kami sa magandang ranking sa IBF,” added Boholst, a former teammate of Suarez in the Philippine national team, where the winner spent most of his boxing career that gave him stints in two Olympics, the last of which was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016.
Lagging in all the judges’ scorecards, Suarez sent Fleming to the canvas with a right uppercut.
The Australian beat the count, but the barrage of punches in the succeeding action prompted the referee to stop the fight in favor of Suarez, who logged his 15th win, eight of which ended via the short route.
Fleming absorbed his first loss in 30 professional bouts.
Without giving details, Boholst lamented the challenges they encountered going into the fight.
“Marami kaming pinagdaanan dito sir,” he told Manila Standard.
But he was thankful for the compact, but supportive Filipino community that boosted the morale and provided help to Team Suarez.
Among them was former world women’s champion Gretchen Abaniel, who has long been residing in Australia.
Suarez and his team will be back in the Philippines on March 19 as they go back to the drawing board for their next campaign.
