NEGOTIATIONS continue for Charlie Suarez’s title shot against World Boxing Organization super featherweight title holder Emmanuel Navarrete of Mexico.
But for now, there’s a scheduled rematch between Navarrete and challenger Oscar Valdez on Dec. 7.
Because the fight has been ordered by the WBO as a “title consolidation,” Suarez will have to wait for changes that may happen before the fight.
With this, the 36-year-old Suarez will have settle for a February-March date next year before possibly meeting Navarrete in Manila. He must slug it out with another fighter, who is in the top 5 of the WBO super featherweight rankings.
Rick Navalta, Suarez’s chief negotiator for the the champ’s next match, said this as the Mexican plunged into serious training this week.
“It’s still in negotiation. You have to prepare, you have to propose,” said Navalta, following a presentation on Wednesday afternoon at the Pandan Asian Café in Quezon City, with Arnold Vegafria, one of Suarez’s managers and supporters.
Suarez is seeking a match with Navarrete, following his successful technical knockout victory over Jorge Castaneda last Sept. 20.
Castaneda became Suarez’s opponent at that time when Andres Cortez backed out of their scheduled 10-round fight.
This improved Suarez’s record to 18 wins, with 11 knockouts.
“Target naming kalabanin si Navarrete, pero may laban siya sa Dec. 7 kay Valdez. Pero, marami pang pagbabago ang puwedeng mangyari,” said Suarez’s coach Delfin Boholst.
Navarrete remained as the WBO super featherweight title contender, despite losing in a move up to lightweight division against Denys Berinchyk on May 18.
Valdez holds the interim WBO title, after stopping Liam Wilson to gain that title on Mar. 29.
Navarrete has a 38-2-1, win-loss-draw slate with 31 KOs, while Valdez totes a 32-2, 24 KO mark after they fought on Aug. 2023.
It was Navarrete who won that fight via unanimous decision.
Since that fight, Navarrete drew with Robson Conceicao before deciding to move up in weight and lost to Denis Berinchyk.
Navalta said Suarez can be a replacement fighter if either one of Navarrete and Valdez gets injured.
If not, they will seek a fight with any of the top 5 WBO superfeatherweight contenders.
The contenders include Albert Bell, Cortez, Filipino bet Mark Magsayo and Liam Wilson.
If the clash with Navarrete pushes through with their negotiations with Top Rank, it may happen at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
