WBO world super-featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete is set to enter an immediate rematch with Charly Suarez after his victory was overturned to a no-contest.
The 30-year-old had come away from their encounter last month with a technical decision win, only for the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) to scrutinise that result.
In doing so, the CSAC has arrived at a rather unsurprising conclusion of a no-contest, inspiring the WBO to promptly order Navarrete-Suarez 2 just yesterday.
Should he wish to defend his strap, Navarette, 39-2-1 (32 KOs), will more than likely agree to the sanctioning body’s request and, in turn, attempt to take care of his unfinished business.
The Mexican was up on the three judges’ scorecards, allowing him to claim the technical decision, after their first bout was halted through eight rounds.
It was in the sixth round, however, when a shot from Suarez, 18-0 (10 KOs), opened a horrendous cut on his opponent’s left eyebrow, leaving Navarrete in a far more compromised position.
But on the night, referee Edward Collantes had deemed the injury to have been caused by an accidental head clash, denying the Filipino a monumental stoppage victory.
With the replay footage indicating that a punch had caused the laceration, though, the CSAC, along with the WBO, has since acted upon an official appeal filed by Team Suarez.
The pair’s rematch, therefore, is likely to take place later this year, with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum having already teased a possible show in the Philippines.
Their possible main event, slated for October, would mark the 50th anniversary of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier’s iconic ‘Thrilla in Manilla.’
