Charly Suarez

In the news

June 3, 2025

SUAREZ TO REMOVE ALL DOUBTS

Charly Suarez reacts to the decision being overturned to a No Contest:

"I respect the commission’s decision to overturn the result to a No Contest. I want to thank God above all, and express my deep gratitude to my team for their unwavering support. If a rematch is granted, I’ll embrace it wholeheartedly. To those who felt I fell short in the first fight, expect a stronger, more focused version of me next time. Thank you to all who continue to support me, especially my loyal fans. God bless you all."

May 30, 2025

SUAREZ NO- CONTEST RULING JUNE 2ND

SUAREZ NO-CONTEST RULING JUNE 2ND

The boxing world is bracing for a major ruling next week, as the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) is expected to nullify the result of the controversial May 10 super-featherweight title clash between Charly Suarez and Mexico’s Emanuel Navarrete.

In what was expected to be Suarez' coming out party as newly minted world champion, the fight ended in a contentious eighth-round technical decision in favor of Navarrete, allowing him to retain his WBO super-featherweight crown. However, following a formal protest and extensive review, the CSAC has reportedly resolved that the bout's conclusion was based on a critical officiating error.

TECHNICAL DECISION TO NO-CONTEST ?

At the heart of the controversy is the cut above Navarrete’s left eye, sustained in Round 6.

Referee Edward Collantes had ruled the laceration resulted from an unintentional clash of heads. Under WBO rules, this led to the fight going to the scorecards when the bout was stopped in the eighth due to the severity of the cut.

Navarrete was awarded a technical decision victory — but the video evidence told a completely different story, and the outrageous error did not go unnoticed by the fans.

Even Mexicans were scathing of the result.

After a comprehensive review, CSAC officials determined that the injury was caused not by a headbutt, but by a clean, legal punch landed by Suarez.

The video analysis contradicts the in-ring ruling and casts serious doubt over the legitimacy of the technical decision.

If the punch had been properly identified in real time, Suarez would have been declared the winner via TKO — and crowned the new WBO champion.

Instead, the fight result may now be erased from both fighters’ records, with the CSAC reportedly leaning toward a no-contest ruling to reflect the officiating error.

RIPPLE EFFECTS AND A POTENTIAL REMATCH

The decision, expected to be finalized on June 2, would nullify Navarrete’s title defense and create a pathway for a rematch between the two fighters — something sources say both camps are already open to.

According to sources, the WBO is monitoring the situation closely and would likely mandate a rematch for the now-vacant super-featherweight title if the fight is officially declared a no-contest.

Suarez, a 36-year-old former Olympian from Davao del Norte, welcomed the development.

"I respect Navarrete, he’s a tough champion,” Suarez said.

“But I was confident I could finish him late. I was coming on strong, and the momentum was shifting.

I’m ready for whatever comes next — a rematch, a title shot, anything.”

OFFICIATING IN THE SPOTLIGHT

This latest reversal underscores the growing calls for more consistent use of video replay and officiating transparency in professional boxing. Though ringside replay official Jack Reiss had reviewed the sequence on fight night, he initially declared there was “no conclusive evidence” to overturn the referee’s call — a judgment the CSAC now appears to refute.

The incident has sparked debate among fans and pundits alike, with many criticizing the initial handling of the injury and praising the CSAC for taking corrective action, even if it comes weeks after the fact.

SO WHAT'S NEXT ?

With the June 2 decision looming, many boxing fans worldwide are awaiting confirmation that could rewrite the outcome of one of 2025’s most dramatic title fights.

A no-contest ruling would not only vindicate Suarez, but also set the stage for a blockbuster rematch — one that promises to settle all lingering doubts inside the ring.

Until then, both fighters are staying ready.

“The fight isn’t over,” Suarez said.

“It just paused. And I’m ready to press play again.”

Go gett'em Charly boy ! June 2nd !!

May 19, 2025

WE WUZ ROBBED!!!

"WE WUZ ROBBED ! :

Chavit Singson expresses outrage over ruling

‘The world wants to see this match.

We want it as soon as possible.’

Charly Suarez has moved on from the heartbreaking loss to Mexican banger Emanuel Navarrete and is looking forward to a rematch.

But Suarez’s camp hasn’t with chief handler--Ilocos political kingpin Luis “Chavit” Singson--leading the charge in assailing the controversial eighth-round technical decision victory handed over to Navarrete after their San Diego showdown last 10 May.

“We got rigged. Everyone thought we had won the fight but only the referee and the ringside doctor went against us,” Singson told reporters during a Q&A with reporters on Sunday at his Quezon City residence.

“Instead of giving us the fight, they ruled it a No-Contest,” said Singson, who is now keeping his fingers crossed that the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) would change the technical decision defeat by Suarez to a technical knockout (TKO) victory and not a No-Contest.

Suarez returned from the United States last Friday, still reeling from the harrowing experience but apparently overjoyed by the massive support he has been receiving after his gutsy showing against the heavily-favored Navarrete.

Referee Ed Collantes called a halt to the fight just one second into the eighth round upon the recommendation of ringside physician Robert Ruelaz after examining Navarrete’s cut for the third time.

Collantes had ruled earlier that the nasty gash above Navarrete’s left eyebrow was caused by an accidental clash of heads and not a punch.

But repeated high-definition television replays later revealed that the cut was opened by Suarez’s left hand, leaving some officials at Top Rank, the promotional outfit that staged the fight, to assure Suarez and his handlers that a rematch is in the offing.

But there is no timeline yet since the CSAC is still meeting on 2 June to discuss the protest filed by Suarez.

Singson said he would like to see the CSAC issue the correct ruling, stressing that he doesn’t have any issues with a rematch, or even a third fight if the need arises.

The boxing world raised a howl over the official decision and Filipino-American Ric Navalta, who represented Singson in America, insists the holding a second meeting is the right thing to do.

"The world wants to see this match. We want it as soon as possible,” he said.

Delfin Boholst, who trains Suarez, swears his fighter was on his way to stopping Navarrete but their luck just ran out.

“The reason they stopped the fight even if the severity of the cut was not that serious was because they all knew Navarrete was leading on the scorecards,” Boholst said.

“Charly was finding his range and it was just a matter of time before he scores a stoppage,” added Boholst, who joined Suarez during their national team days.

Suarez, 36, feels he was supremely confident of scoring a TKO.

“His punches were no longer that strong unlike in the first three rounds when I really felt them,” Suarez said.

As the CSAC deliberate on the case, Suarez’s outlook is one of pushing forward.

“As a boxer, my role is to fight and win. The decision’s not within my control but I am hoping that the decision (by the CSAC) is going to be favorable.”

Regardless of what happens, Suarez would welcome another chance to slug with Navarrete.

Asked whether it’s going to be easier the second time around, Suarez answered in the negative.

“No, it’s not. It’s going to be a tough fight,” he said calmly.

Meanwhile, the entire team is still raging over the result.

*story courtesy of Nick Giongco of the Daily Tribune

May 14, 2025

YAP : "I'M GOING TO ASK HARD QUESTIONS !!"

Mark John Yap, pictured steep in the mountains of Cagayan de Oro earlier today, seems as EVERGREEN as his surrounds !

The "Journey Man" heads off to Cebu this afternoon, in readiness for tomorrow's weigh in for the Omega show this coming Friday.

"I feel very good, I haven't been doing much boxing, but running has kept me fit."

Yap is resuming from a loss in Surigao to unbeaten prospect Jerald Into, a hell fight that tortured both boxers to the point of failure.

Into has since jumped in weight class to 140lb, and was dominant in winning at the WBC tournament in Saudi Arabia.

"That fight was very hard. Jerald is a good boxer and above my weight class, but I was confident in my ability to win. But he was stronger than I expected, and my team didn't see that he had collapsed on his stool. So maybe if we saw that, the result is different, but I also felt ready to die "

quipped Yap.

About his upcoming bout with rising star Alexander Fredrikkson, Yap is equal parts excited and very relaxed.

"This was the boy I was meant to fight earlier this year, but GAB canceled. Thankfully we have another chance.

This is a good boxer, and I can see he has two knockouts in two fights. He has a lot of wins to come. But not on Friday !

Professional boxing is a hard game, and very different to the amateurs that he comes from.

It takes time to learn the tricks.

On Friday, we will get to see if Fredrikkson can be a good boxer when I am landing shots on him.

This will be his exam - and I will ask him hard questions.

Some I know for sure, he won't be able to answer !"

May 13, 2025

EYES WIDE SHUT

MAYBE HIS EYES WERE CLOSED AT THE TIME !

Referees are required to make quick judgments, often in unfortunate situations where their vision is obscured. And it's fair to assume at World Title level, we are seeing the absolute elite in referees and judges to officiate these big fights.

Many tendered that referee Edward Collantes was perhaps not in a position to adjudicate the cause of the Navarrete cut, and in the absence of obvious proof of a punch, defaulted to safer ground and declared a headbutt.

Seems reasonable !!

But in this picture, we see compelling evidence that the besieged Collantes had a perfect view.

He's right there in front think "Aargh - that's gotta hurt Vaquero ! C'mon man, pick up your game - this Suarez kid is punching holes in you now !"

This call by Edward Collantes is definitely just too hard to explain !!

On June 2nd, hopefully the California commission will make reparations to a joint mess created by both Edward Collantes and themselves.

In the meantime, reacquaint yourselves with the rules pertaining to accidental headbutts and the referees role in declaring :

The Unified Rules of Boxing don't explicitly state what a referee should do if they can't see the cause of a cut due to n vision. However, according to the rules regarding accidental fouls.

Accidental Fouls: If an accidental foul causes an injury severe enough for the referee to stop the bout, the outcome depends on the number of rounds completed.

Before 4 Rounds: No decision is rendered, resulting in a "No Decision".

After 4 Rounds: The bout goes to a Technical Decision, with the winner determined by the scorecards.

In cases where a headbutt is involved, the referee's judgment plays a crucial role. While there's no specific passage detailing obscured vision, referees are expected to:

Determine Cause: Decide whether a cut was caused by a punch or a head collision.

Consult Ringside Physician: If necessary, consult with the physician to assess the injury.

Given the lack of specific guidance on obscured vision, referees likely rely on their experience and discretion to handle such situations.

May 12, 2025

SUAREZ : THE DAY AFTER THE WAR

Most guys aren't so fortunate to get out of the ring unscathed after a war with Emanuel Navarrete.

Charly is looking bright as a button, and ready to go again !

He also had some interesting insights after yesterday's battle.

Charly said that he fought a completely different style yesterday to his normal, with the objective of tiring and knocking out his opponent.

He believed that even if he boxed and won every round, he would not get the judges' decisions.

He would need to KNOCKOUT Navarrete to win !

He also made these comments about the champion :

"He is a very strong and tough fighter. But his shots aren't as powerful as people think, and he never hurt me.

His punch is different. It's like a strong push and it can put you off balance, and he is very good at splitting the guard.

When I went backwards, I was trying to trick him to lean forward for my counter, but I lost balance sometimes because of his awkward pushing and punching.

I was never worried about his power, but in rounds 6 and 7, his punch became a lot weaker. He was standing in bad position to get hit, and I hit him a lot more.

I respect him, he is a warrior, but I was just warming up and he was breathing hard and making mistakes.

I know in my heart, he would not have finished the fight. "

May 11, 2025

REMATCH COMING UP

ROBBERY TO BE DOWNGRADED: NO CONTEST ?

SAN DIEGO – The California State Athletic Commission is expected to convert Emanuel Navarrete’s controversial technical decision victory over Charly Suarez to a no-contest, BoxingScene learned Saturday night.

A cut at Navarrete’s left eyebrow in the sixth round had been ruled the result of an accidental clash of heads. The fight ended at the start of the eighth and was sent to the scorecards. In the hours after an immediate judgment was made to award Navarrete the WBO junior lightweight title fight victory at Pechanga Arena, a subsequent replay emerged showing the champion’s cut was caused by challenger Charly Suarez’s left-handed punch.

If that had been the final decision in the minutes after ringside physician Dr. Robert Ruelaz ruled the fight to be stopped, Suarez would have been declared the winner by technical knockout.

Instead, referee Edward Collantes immediately ruled that the clash of heads caused the cut, and video replay official Jack Reiss said there was no conclusive evidence from the initial scenes he reviewed to overturn that call.

“Our rules on replay say unless it’s undisputed, the referee’s call shall stand, and this was very disputable," Reiss told BoxingScene. “I had quite a few looks at it. But nothing up close. And nothing at the correct angle.”

However, the later footage revealed Suarez’s punch opened the cut, and that has convinced the California commission to adapt, and label the outcome a no-contest that will provoke a rematch ordered by the WBO.

Following Saturday night’s confusing events, both fighters provided divergent explanations.

While the Philippines’ Suarez insisted his punch opened Navarrete’s cut, the champion from Mexico maintained it was Suarez’s head that caused a cut “two layers deep” and forced the bout’s outcome to the scorecards, which were returned 77-76 (Lou Moret), 78-75 (Pat Russell), 77-76 (Fernando Villareal) in Navarrete’s favor.

“I felt it was a headbutt. I saw the review. It seems like a punch, but it exploded two layers of skin,” Navarrete said to reporters while standing as the winner. “I didn’t want it to end. I was fine to keep going. I felt like the best rounds were still to come. But the doctor stopped the fight.”

He agreed Suarez gave him a demanding bout, and said, “He would be a great opponent. He is a great opponent. So a rematch would be good.”

Suarez, who took an 18-0 record into the bout, said he feels a rematch is justified given the dispute over the way it was settled.

“I thought I had a chance to win the fight. I had five more rounds to try to win,” if the bout hadn’t been stopped, Suarez said.

The fight was a highly entertaining scrap that saw both men swing for the proverbial fences, with each rocked in various moments.

Suarez said it reminded him of countryman Manny Pacquiao’s epic brawls with Mexican warriors, including Juan Manuel Marquez, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera.

Suarez said he was saddened by the turn of events against him, but obeying the rulings instead of vehemently arguing with officials.

“I respect Navarrete because he’s a good boxer, and he’ll give me a chance to rematch after a fight that was entertaining,” Suarez said. “I’m sad, but I have the hope they will give me another chance. Maybe next time.”

Top Rank Vice President of Operations Carl Moretti immediately said after the bout that he would push for a rematch.

Navarrete had great difficulty making weight for the 130lbs title defense, but he said he didn’t feel weakened during the bout and he’ll decide during the two-month cut healing period if he’ll remain as champion or try again at lightweight after a title-fight loss at 135lbs last year.

“You saw the level of that fight and how it developed – in the seven rounds, I think we threw more punches than all of those fights [Canelo Alvarez-William Scull, Devin Haney-Jose Ramirez] last weekend,” Navarrete said. “I felt good. I felt competent. There were opponents you can say he made me look limited, but there were alternatives.

“Yes, there was pressure in making weight – 0.4 pounds with time against [me]. But the weight was made, I recovered, I felt good in there.

“The work we did in the fight is the work we planned.

“I’ll see what comes and make a decision,” on the rematch.

*Story courtesy of BoxingScene.

May 10, 2025

NAVARRETE MISSES THE WEIGHT!

NAVARRETE MISSES WEIGHT!!!

It took 3 visits to the scales, and a very unhealthy looking Emanuel Navarrete was finally passed for tomorrow's WBO World Title bout in San Diego against Philippines' Charly Suarez.

Navarrete, the current WBO junior lightweight champion, really struggled to make weight, initially missing the 130-pound limit by 0.4 pounds.

He needed most of the two-hour allotted time to trim the remaining weight, finally dipping to 130 pounds after an anguished expression and a groan when he was told he was still 0.2 pounds overweight.

"It hurts for a day, and then it's better the next day," Navarrete said about the weight cut.

Navarrete's matchmaker, Brad Goodman, noted that Navarrete might have chosen Suarez because he's a technical fighter with movement, which could pose problems for Navarrete.

"The last guy I would’ve picked is Suarez, because he’s a right-handed Denys Berinchyk. He’s going to chase Suarez down. Suarez switches lefty to righty. And it’s been seen already that he has problems with movers."

Suarez, on the other hand, made weight easily on his first try at 129.9 pounds.

"I will do my best. I've dreamed of this," Suarez said, raising his arms while on the scale. Suarez is treating this opportunity as a once-in-a-lifetime shot, knowing that there may never be another moment like this.

"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 since two years ago".

Suarez's trainer believes Navarrete is still a dangerous fighter despite being 1-1-1 in his last three bouts.

"He's different from before. There's a lot of fights, a lot of sparring, so it's possible that he's changed his style and power," Suarez said about Navarrete .

The winner of this fight could set up a potential bout against Andres Cortes, with Goodman saying, "Navarrete is a real strong guy, and I expect him to assert that."

Navarrete's victory would allow him to join countrymen Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Rafael Espinoza in successful title defenses.

But perhaps Suarez is the final nail in the coffin that ensures this fight is one too many at 130-pound for the reigning champ Emanuel Navarrete.

May 9, 2025

"IT WILL BE EASY FOR HIM I BELIEVE"

Vietnam fight legend Nguyễn Văn Hải is predicting former opponent Charly Suarez to win the world title this Sunday against reigning champ Emanuel Navarrete.

"It will be easy for him i believe - he will win.

Charly he is an all round fighter, and Navarrete has never been in the ring with his equal.

Charly is the devil in contemporary boxing !!

And I have experienced and learned many lessons first hand - so I know what he can do.

Charly is as fast as a squirrel.

He strikes so quickly and often.

His accuracy is quite amazing, and I have never suffered it in my career like I did with Charly.

His opponents do not have enough time and space to work.

It is very confusing.

And it feels like you can get tired without landing shots. He is very hard to hit, and very good at counter.

If you make mistake, you have to pay. He is the devil.

This will be the same experience for Emanuel Navarrete. He will have to pay too !

Charly Suarez will win.

May 9, 2025

"CHARLY WILL REALLY SURPRISE HIM !!"

The morning before weigh in for the most important fight of his life - and you wouldn't know it !

Charly Suarez looks hydrated and in amazing condition, and at 131lb is only just over his scheduled weight.

It is hard to imagine opponent Emanuel Navarrete is enjoying things as much, as he has suffered some challenges making 130lb in past contests.

"Charly is in great shape and we had a very good preparation. " reported trainer Delfin Boholst.

"He is very relaxed, in fact it's me who is far more nervous!

We have studied our opponent a lot and have received much good advice from trainers who have experience with Navarrete.

To beat a champion like Emanuel Navarrete is of course not easy, but we are very confident in our fight plan.

Charly will really surprise him this Saturday night ".

May 8, 2025

BE PART OF HISTORY IN THE MAKING !

Charly Suarez will attempt to be the first pinoy since the great Manny Pacquiao to hoist the World 130lb title when he fights in San Diego this Sunday.

And who better to make a statement with than the multiple division world champ and legend Emanuel Navarrete.

You can't be in San Diego by Sunday, but you're in Manila I hear ??

Don't worry - we have you covered !

Good friend Pow Salud will be hosting a Watch Party this Sunday, and it will be a fantastic and iconic day.

So please - beg, borrow or steal and come support our boy Charly Suarez this Sunday.

Be part of history in the making !

Watch Party for the WBO World Junior Lightweight Championship featuring

🇵🇭Charly Suarez vs 🇲🇽Emanuel Navarrete!

Catch it live on May 11, 2025, ~ 9 AM at Skyline Sports & Social, Century City Mall, Poblacion, Makati City. 🔥🔥

#PinoyBoxingProdigy

#SupportPhilippineBoxing

May 6, 2025

SCARED CAT CORTES DISSES SUAREZ

"SCAREDY CAT" CORTES DISSES CHARLY BOY

Main undercard bout fighter Andres Cortes gives Charly Suarez no hope against reigning champ and red-hot favourite Emanuel Navarrete this Sunday in San Diego.

Whilst the boxer had words to say in dismissing Suarez's chances (even predicting his demise by knockout) - he failed to come clean about his team's decision to leave the unbeaten Filipino at the altar for a World Title eliminator late last year !

Now the scaredy-cat braggard is even talking up his next match with the champion Navarrete !

Andres Cortes favors Emanuel Navarrete over Charly Suarez :

*courtesy of BoxingScene

Junior lightweight contender Andres Cortes favors Emanuel Navarrete over Charly Suarez. Regardless of the outcome, he wants to fight the winner.

Cortes fights Salvador Jimenez in a 10-round bout on May 10 at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. The bout will be on the undercard of Navarrete-Suarez, which will be for the WBO junior lightweight title.

The 27-year-old Cortes, 22-0 (12 KOs), knows of Suarez well. They were scheduled to fight in September. Cortes of Las Vegas believes that Navarette will be leaving victorious in the main event.

“It could be difficult in the beginning, but he should end up finishing that guy, that's me being honest,” Cortes told BoxingScene. “I was supposed to fight Suarez. I did study him, so I know how it's going to go down.”

Cortes further explained the flaw he sees in the undefeated Suarez, 18-0 (11 KOs). Suarez, a 36-year-old fighter from Davao del Norte province in the Philippines, enters with 123 rounds of professional experience. Navarrete, a multi-division titleholder, enters with double the experience in terms of professional rounds at 246.

“His professional experience is very low,” Cortes said. “He hasn't fought anyone. He hasn't been hit with a hard shot. So, now he's going to go in there and fight a guy who hits hard. He's most likely going to fold.”

Cortes will be returning to the ring after nearly an 11-month break. He commented on his layoff and believes it was a positive.

“I had a good little break. I think I needed that mentally,” Cortes said. “I'm dying to get back in the ring. I want to stay busy and keep fighting. So, we get this fight out of the way and start looking for another one right away.”

An interesting subplot is that the 30-year-old Navarrete, 39-2-1 (32 KOs), suffered a loss a year ago at the same arena. Navarrete of San Juan Zitlaltepec, Mexico, was attempting to become a four-division world champion, but lost to Denys Berinchyk. Since that bout, Navarrete returned to defeat Oscar Valdez in December.

Cortes wants the winner of the main event, even stating that a fight between himself and Navarrete could be one of the best of the year.

“I would have been willing to go toe to toe with Navarrete for 12 rounds,” Cortes said. ”I think that's what the fans want to see. We could have delivered a fight of the year.”

May 6, 2025

VAQUERO IS GREAT BUT ......

The King's Warrior Charly Suarez still takes him to school this Sunday !!

WBO Super Featherweight crown is coming soon to the Philippines 🇵🇭

April 25, 2025

"THERE'S NO MORE TOMORROW "

Great article published today by Australia's Liahm O'brien.

There's some great insights into the upcoming world title bout with Navarrete.

Charly Suarez states that despite his late start in the pros, he is determined to make his own piece of Philippines 🇵🇭 sporting history.

"My dream is that I’m still undefeated until I retire from boxing. In the Philippines, there’s no boxers that stopped boxing undefeated.

For me, I’ll make my own name for that area.”

And despite being a huge underdog in the betting against champion Emanuel Navarrete, Suarez adds this pledge to the Philippines fans :

“Confidently and by God’s grace, I’ll try my best, and with the help of my team, we will beat him in this fight. This is it. This is my time, and this is a big opportunity to come to us. No matter what happens, I will win the fight. This is a big moment, a big opportunity that has come into my life, a one-in-a-million moment. I don’t want to lose it.”

Read the full story by Liahm O'brien here :

https://fightsatw.com/no-more-tomorrow-charly-suarez-to-lay-it-all-on-the-line-in-emanuel-navarrete-clash/

April 24, 2025

"EUBANK IS SMART ! BUT IT'S BENN FOR ME !"

The King's Warrior Charly Suarez gives his prediction on the big fight this Saturday night.

Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn – "Fatal Fury"

Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London

The sons of British boxing legends finally meet in the ring after their 2022 bout was cancelled.

Eubank Jr (34-3, 25 KOs) faces unbeaten Benn (23-0, 14 KOs) at middleweight in a high-stakes 12-round clash.

April 22, 2025

IT’S UP, UP AND AWAY ! SAN DIEGO

Charly Suarez boarded Philippines Airlines today bound for the USA, where the country’s next world champ was enthusiasticly feted by their wonderful air crew.

Suarez has a date with destiny in San Diego on May 10th, when he takes on the iconic Mexican Emanuel Navarrete for the WBO Super Featherweight World Title.

April 10, 2025

SUAREZ ONE MONTH OUT

Smiles all around as Charly Suarez completes some light sparring in preparation for his world title fight with Emanuel Navarrete on May 10th in San Diego.

Reports are that Suarez is looking faster than ever (if that is even possible !) and that the Mexican world champ is in for a world of trouble !

Charly worked today with Gerald Eederos and Arnel Baconaje, who also has a big upcoming bout in May against Japan's Rentaro Kimura.

March 28, 2025

PHILIPPINES STAR A REAL UNDERDOG

PHILIPPINES 🇵🇭 STAR A REAL UNDERDOG

Betting markets have just gone up, and as you'd expect, Mexico's Emanuel Navarrete is quoted as an "unbeatable" favourite against the "King's Warrior" Charly Suarez.

But world boxing fans are not so well informed, and often fickle, and these opening markets offer huge value to those loyal to the chances of the Philippines' best boxer.

Here's how the two fighters line up according to BoxLive :

PREVIEW

When is Navarrete vs Suarez?

Emanuel Navarrete will face the challenge of Charly Suarez on Saturday, May 10th, 2025, at Pechanga Arena, San Diego.

The fight will be contested over 12 rounds in the Super Featherweight division, which means the weight limit will be 130 pounds (9.3 stone or 59 kg).

This contest is for the WBO super featherweight championship of the world.

FIGHTER STATS

Emanuel Navarrete steps into the ring with a record of 39 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw, 32 of those wins coming by way of knockout.

Charly Suarez will make his way to the ring with an unblemished record of 18 wins and 0 draws, with 10 of those by knockout.

The stats suggest Navarrete has a large advantage in power over Suarez, boasting a 82% knockout percentage compared to Suarez's 56%.

Emanuel Navarrete is the younger man by 6 years, at 30 years old.

Navarrete has a height advantage of 1 inch over Suarez. This also extends to a 7-inch reach advantage.

Both Emanuel Navarrete and Charly Suarez fight out of an orthodox stance.

Navarrete is the more experienced professional fighter, having had 24 more fights, and made his debut in 2012, 7 years earlier than Suarez, whose first professional fight was in 2019. He has fought 123 more professional rounds, totaling 246 compared to Suarez's 123.

Emanuel Navarrete goes into the fight ranked number 1 by The Ring at super featherweight.

Charly Suarez is currently ranked number 15 by the WBC, 1 by the WBO, and 4 by the IBF in the 130lb division.

CURRENT FORM

Navarrete has beaten 3 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 2 of them, going the distance once.

In his last fight, he beat Oscar Valdez on December 7, 2024, by knockout in the 6th round in their WBO World Junior Lightweight championship fight at Footprint Center, Phoenix, United States.

Prior to that, he had been beaten by Denys Berinchyk on May 18, 2024, by split decision in their WBO World Lightweight championship fight at Pechanga Arena, San Diego.

Going into that contest, he had drawn with Robson Conceicao on November 16, 2023, by majority draw in their 12 round contest in their WBO World Junior Lightweight championship fight at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.

Before that, he had beaten Oscar Valdez on August 12, 2023, by unanimous decision in their WBO World Junior Lightweight championship fight at Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale.

He had won against Liam Wilson on February 3, 2023, by technical knockout in the 9th round in their WBO World Junior Lightweight championship fight at Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale.

Charly Suarez (18-0, 10 KOs) had several hundred fights as an amateur, representing his homeland at the 2016 Olympics and several World Championships.

A six-year pro, he won a pair of regional titles in March 2023 when he scored a come-from-behind 12th-round stoppage over Paul Fleming on hostile turf in Sydney, Australia.

The Fleming triumph paved the way for a deal with Top Rank, and Suarez has won three straight fights in America. He knocked out Jorge Castañeda in three rounds last September, which came five months removed from a hard-fought eight-round decision over Louie Coria.

ACTIVITY CHECK

Navarrete's last 5 fights have come over a period of 2 years, 3 months and 7 days, which means he has been fighting approximately every 5 months and 14 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 51 rounds, meaning that they have lasted 10.2 rounds on average.

Navarrete will be making his 4th defense of the WBO World Junior Lightweight Championship. He won this belt against Liam Wilson in February 2023.He had held this belt for 2 years, 1 month and 23 days.

Suarez has had 2 fights in 2023, and 2 fights in 2024. His most recent was a knockout victory in September of last year against Jorge Castañeda. This will be his first attempt at the WBO World Title.

#VSPPromotions #vspboxing #vsppro #boxingvietnam #Elorde #ElordeTV

March 28, 2025

WHEN YOU DREAM OF WINNING A WORLD TITLE, Every little bit helps !

Charly Suarez and Coach Delfin Boholst were joined by the Philippines' superstar Manny Pacquiao at the Elorde Sports Awards night last week in Manila.

The trio took a quick "time out" to devote some quiet prayer in aid of a better world - which surely must include success for the "King's Warrior" in his upcoming world title bid !!

Suarez will take on legendary Mexican Emanuel Navarrete for the WBO 130lb strap in San Diego on May 10th.

March 26, 2025

SUAREZ "BUT I KNOW I AM BETTER"

Statistics hardly favour challengers in world title fights, with champions winning by a landslide of more than 70% of those contested.

The task of taking on a highly recognizable star like Emanuel Navarrete in front of a very supportive and perhaps biased "home" crowd in San Diego makes a successful assault on a title even more formidable.

The Philippines' best fighter will start a despised "outsider" in the betting at his World Title debut.

Or put simply - Charly is a real LONGSHOT !

Yet those that have been close to Suarez - watched him, fought him, or even sparred him, quite rightfully ask

"How the hell can Navarrete beat this guy ??"

“San Diego is an incredible fight town, and we are thrilled to return with Emanuel Navarrete, who will go down as one of the great Mexican champions of his era,” said promoter Bob Arum.

“Charly Suarez is a determined, unbeaten contender who will have everyone in the Philippines cheering him on."

“I’m at a new stage of my career, and I’m fired up for another defense of my world title,” Emanuel Navarrete said.

“This fight motivates me.

Suarez is undefeated and dangerous. He’s ranked No. 1 in the world for a reason. He’s exactly the kind of challenge that fuels me.

I owe the fans in San Diego a win, and on May 10, I’ll settle that debt with a dominant victory.”

36-year-old Suarez (18-0, 10 KOs) makes his first attempt to become champion. The unbeaten contender from Asuncion, Davao del Norte stopped Jorge Castaneda in the third round last September and landed the WBO International 130-pound strap.

“I am thankful to Top Rank for this opportunity,” Charly Suarez said. “When I enter the ring on May 10, I will show the world I have what it takes. I won’t waste this opportunity.

Navarrete is a monster in the ring, but I know I am better.”

March 19, 2025

CHARLY SUAREZ WORLD TITLE MAY 10

Philippines best fighter Charly Suarez first came to Vietnam 🇻🇳 in 2019 to fight at Victory8 in Hanoi again the legendary Nguyễn Văn Hải. He loved his experience so much, he vowed to return, but tge pandemic conspired. It wasn't until late 2022 that the unbeaten Suarez got his opportunity, where he successfully secured belts at the FORTUNES OF WAR held in Vung Tau.

Those trips to Vietnam 🇻🇳 and training at VSP Gym were an important part of a very long journey in boxing for Charly Suarez.

It began as a 10 year old training with his papa, a long and decorated amateur career, folliwed by a long run of unblemished success in the professional ranks.

And now, at the tender age of 37, finally one of the most avoided boxers on the planet gets his WORLD TITLE shot !!

Big congrats to Charly and Coach Delfin - Navarrete is in trouble !!

Dan Rafael has revealed via his Fight Freaks Unite Substack tonight that WBO super featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) will make the fourth defence of his title against the Philippines 🇵🇭 Charly Suarez 18-0, 9 KO)

Navarrete will defend his WBO strap against Suarez on May 10 at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, according to “sources with knowledge of the plans.”

The card will be promoted by Top Rank Boxing on ESPN.

Navarrete, a three-division world champion, is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous fighters in the sport. The 30-year-old Mexican warrior is coming off a savage knockout victory over former world champion Oscar Valdez, reaffirming his reputation as an elite finisher. His relentless pressure and unorthodox style have made him a dominant force from 122 lbs to 130 lbs.

Charly “The King’s Warrior” Suarez, has been ducked twice by Top Rank stars previously, and finally gets his well deserved world title shot this May.

A former Olympian, and one of the most technically gifted boxers the country has ever produced, Suarez has long been revered for his ring IQ, slick counterpunching, and elite movement.

Despite being the big betting underdog, the Davao native has every intention of putting on a clinic against the hard-hitting Mexican champion.

Expect the ethereal Suarez to take Navarrete to school !

“I respect Navarrete as a great champion, but this is my moment,” said Suarez.

“I’ve spent my entire career preparing for this chance, and on May 10, Philippines will have a new world champion.”

March 17, 2025

SUAREZ WINS SHOT AT WORLD TITLE GLORY

Navarrete will defend his WBO strap against Suarez on May 10 at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, according to “sources with knowledge of the plans.”

The card will be promoted by Top Rank Boxing on ESPN.

Charly “The King’s Warrior” Suarez, has been ducked twice by Top Rank stars previously, and finally gets his well deserved world title shot this May.

A former Olympian, and one of the most technically gifted boxers the country has ever produced, Suarez has long been revered for his ring IQ, slick counterpunching, and elite movement.

Despite being the big betting underdog, the Davao native has every intention of putting on a clinic against the hard-hitting Mexican champion.

Expect the ethereal Suarez to take Navarrete to school !

“I respect Navarrete as a great champion, but this is my moment,” said Suarez.

“I’ve spent my entire career preparing for this chance, and on May 10, Philippines will have a new world champion.”

The bout adds another chapter to the storied Mexico vs. Philippines boxing rivalry, which has produced legendary battles over the years. From Manny Pacquiao vs. Marco Antonio Barrera to Nonito Donaire vs. Fernando Montiel, some of the sport’s greatest fights have emerged from their classic match ups.

That said, the champion Navarrete will surely be supremely confident in his ability to overpower his lesser known challenger.

Despite the odds, Suarez’s technical brilliance and discipline will present a serious challenge to Navarrete’s relentless attack.

With Filipino and Mexican pride on the line, this world title fight promises to be one of the iconic bouts of 2O25.

But fight fans expect an upset - and a new Philippines world champion named Charly Suarez this coming May 10th.

January 21, 2025

WHAT THE HELL TOP RANK ??

You have the world's most expensive Bugatti - and you got it collecting dust in the garage !!

WBO Super Featherweight #1 contender Charly Suarez waits in limbo, while his potential victims are hoping he gets real old !

Top Rank have already had two boxers (Henry Lebron and Andres Cortes) shamelessly duck the Philippines 🇵🇭 freak talent at late notice

ie Sorry Charly - you're just too damn good for our expensive roster - can you just go away !!

C'mon guys, don't postpone the inevitable !

We know it's just business, and Suarez doesn't sell in America, but after he blows away Emmanuel Navarrete - surely you can get some ROI at his next fight ?

In the meantime, keep your boy busy.

Give him one of those lame ducks on your roster to keep the tools sharp.

C'mon Top Rank - the CHAMP DESERVES BETTER !!

November 17, 2024

TWO YEARS AGO ALREADY !!

Bit of nostalgia here, but this FORTUNES OF WAR was an extremely fun event (despite the many dramas) and well worth revisiting. And you will see that there are lot's of familiar names on this historic fight card.

The Vietnam 🇻🇳 team was spearheaded by Dinh Hong Quân, a guy that had been on a winning run and was defending an IBF Title, but he was having lots of trouble with his weight in the lead up. He even collapsed at one stage and had to be resuscitated at one point !

We had top young prospects Lê Hoàng Hiep and Phan Minh Quân, who fought out of their skins against international pro boxers with more than 70 wins between them !

Nguyễn Văn Hải is obviously a legend on the local scene but had been inactive, so he was a bit of a "query" inclusion - yet he produced a memorable performance that culminated in two dramatic knockdowns.

But even more amazing was the debut of another Vietnam kid Thai Hoang Huy - this guy had never even boxed (he was a muay thai student that loved the idea of being a boxer !) And he went in with an opponent that had 14 knockouts in 15 wins - BIG BALLS !!

Suffice to say, the Vietnam 🇻🇳 team had a great experience and a lot of fun at this show - it was held at the beautiful Grand Ho Tram Resort in the coastal area of Vung Tau.

The visiting international team?

Well - some crazy talent on that side of the fence !

Philippines 🇵🇭 - Charly Suarez, Mark John Yap, Arnel Baconaje, Jetro Pabustan and Jon Jon Estrada.

These guys share plaudits as multiple national and regional title holders, with the unbeaten Suarez currently on the precipice of a world title.

Indonesia 🇮🇩 - Paisal Panjaitan - a really top unbeaten prospect who is now #2 in his country.

Defry Palulu - an Indonesia #2 and WBC belt holder.

South Korea 🇰🇷 - Chan Ho Song - an unbeaten 12-0 guy with blazing hands and a World Youth champ.

Thailand 🇹🇭 - Anuson Thonglueang - a top youth prospect with only one loss in 14 bouts, and who currently sits at #2 rated Welterweight in Thailand.

Thanks for making this FORTUNES OF WAR a very memorable event boys, you put on a thrilling and entertaining show for everyone that was lucky enough to be there to see it.

VSP wish you continued luck and enjoyment in your boxing adventures ahead.

PS. the main event between Dinh Hong Quân 🇭🇰 and Arnel Baconaje 🇵🇭 was watched by more than 2 million people online !

https://youtu.be/wtvhUrz5EVg?si=wFMeYF-L41LBBD7p

October 10, 2024

SUAREZ SOON TO BE KING OF THE MOUNTAIN

Philippines best boxer Charly Suarez and his coach Delfin Boholst were welcome guests of the Games and Amusements Board office this week :

"Rising global contender and undefeated boxer Charly Suarez poses with Commissioner Angel P. Bautista at the GAB Central Office.

Charly Suarez rose to the top of the charts after securing a technical knockout victory against American Jorge Castaneda in the third round.

Suarez is undergoing intensive training as he prepares for an imminent bout with reigning champion Emmanuel Navarrete for the WBO Super Featherweight World Title."

September 22, 2024

"I'LL SMACK CHARLY SUAREZ ANY DAY !"

World #2 Andres Cortes was not impressed with what he saw yesterday from the Philippines' champion Charly Suarez.

But his words of belittlement are surely a bit rich from a guy who vanished from the title eliminator match up without any explanation !!

Andres Cortes sparked controversy on social media by dismissing claims that he's afraid of Charly Suarez, his original opponent for Saturday's IBF title fight in Glendale, Arizona.

Cortes took to the comments section, boasting that he would easily defeat Suarez, even comparing him to the legendary Manny Pacquiao. "You tweaking, I'll smack him (Suarez) any day of the week, (him) and Manny Pac Man. They both old, no difference."

He also targeted Suarez's physical attributes, calling him "a 5'5", 37-year-old" (Suarez is listed at 5'6" and 36 years old on BoxRec).

"He's the easiest paycheck. I've seen him in the gym, and he's a very small old man, just being honest. I"ll send him back to his 9-5 !" claimed the cocky Las Vegas native.

However, Cortes' words are likely to haunt him as Jorge Castaneda, his replacement, suffered a third-round savage knockout at the hands of Suarez.

The victory solidified Suarez's reputation as a potential boss in the super featherweight division, while Cortes' comments have drawn criticism from fans and pundits alike.

Many have questioned Cortes' decision to withdraw from the fight, citing concerns over his credibility and courage. Many proud filipinos had plenty to say regarding the fugitive's snide remarks.

"Talk is cheap, but actions speak louder," said one. "Cortes' comments reek of desperation and insecurity."

"When you start mocking someone's age and physical attributes, it's a sign of weakness.

Suarez proved himself in the ring, while Cortes hid behind words." said another.

Cortes' future in the sport remains uncertain, but one thing is clear – his words have fueled a heated debate in the boxing community.

If he has a valid injury then we wish him a hasty recovery, but it has also been suggested that the evasive Cortes was baking cookies with his mother at the time that Suarez was knocking Castaneda into another galaxy.

#vspboxing #vsppro #VSPPromotions

September 21, 2024

CHARLY SUAREZ WINS BY KNOCKOUT

The Philippines' Charly Suarez scores a massive a massive 3rd round knockout over Jorge Castaneda just moments ago.

World title bound !

September 20, 2024

CHARLY SUAREZ MAKES THE WEIGHT EASY

VSP and Vietnam 🇻🇳 friend Charly Suarez hit the scales at 129.4 for tomorrow's WBO International bout in Glendale Arizona. Opponent Jorge Castaneda weighed in at 129.1.

Suarez fought Vietnam's Nguyễn Văn Hải in an exhibition in Hanoi at the VSP show Victory8.

He also defeated Indonesia’s champ Defry Palulu at the Grand Ho Tram in Vũng Tàu in late 2O22.

The Super Featherweight title will take place on the undercard of the Top Rank Jaime Munguia return, and will start around

8.30am Vietnam 🇻🇳

9.30am Philippines 🇵🇭

11.30am Australia 🇦🇺

September 20, 2024

CHARLY SUAREZ 129.4JORGE CASTANEDA 129.1

WBO International Junior Lightweight Title — 10 Rounds)

We fight tomorrow: SUAREZ VS. CASTAÑEDA

Live in ESPN Arizona time 6:40pm

Philippines time 9:40am

September 18, 2024

CHARLY SUAREZ - FULL FIGHT CARD

The Philippines 🇵🇭 Charly Suarez heads to Glendale Arizona this Saturday where he takes on talented American fighters Jorge Castaneda.

Suarez will fight for the IBF International belt on a card headlined by outstanding Mexican Jaime Munguia.

Castaneda is a superb change of opponent for Suarez, and he replaces world #2 Andres Cortes in a bout originally billed as a world title eliminator and main undercard bout.

Mystery surrounds the withdrawal of Andres Cortes, but in reality, he was going to cop an ass whooping from Charly anyway, so Top Rank did the right thing by grounding him.

Bravo to Jorge Castaneda for stepping up.

A great fight coming this Saturday !!

September 10, 2024

SUAREZ FORCES TOP RANK STARS INTO HIDING

Henry Lebron and Andres Cortes obviously think so !!

This is the second time in his last three fights that Charly Suarez has turned Top Rank lions into pussy cats that don't wanna fight no more !

We understand the business Top Rank, but hey, if these pinup boys are ducking a 36 year old Charly Suarez - then surely they were never genuine world champion material in the first place ?

So let's send those boys to the back of the queue, and let's see what the new boy Jorge Castaneda can muster.

Castaneda is a tall orthodox fighter, with a nice jab and decent power. He's beaten some world class guys in amassing a 17-3 record, so he should at least be a good measuring stick for the Philippines star's world title claims.

But in future, please Mr. Arum - no more kitty kats ! Where's that kid Navarrete at ?

He loves a challenge, right ??

#vsppro #elordegym #vspboxing #VSPPromotions #elorde #boxingvietnam

September 8, 2024

SUAREZ SENDS ANOTHER CHAMP PACKING !!

Charly Suarez confirmed his status of one of boxing's most avoided, two weeks out from a World Title elimination showdown with Top Rank star Andres Cortes.

World #2 Andres Cortes has sensationally pulled out of his fight with the Philippines phenomenon, and the circumstances have an eery similarity to a previous canceled bout with the unbeaten Henry Lebron.

The word is Charly Suarez has been lighting up sparring partners at Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gyn in Los Angeles - and there were many "interested" observers.

News travels fast - and Andres Cortes has now bitten the dust.

Suarez was expected to be the 36 year old B side in Top Rank's game of Snakes and Ladders, but it appears the team of young lion Cortes have screamed a collective MEOW !

So another big name whimpers out, and Charly Suarez will now fight for the WBO International Title against American Jorge Castaneda 17-3.

#vspboxing #vsppro #VSPPromotions #toprank #toprankboxing

August 27, 2024

CORTES A TOP RANK POSTER BOY ?

World #2 Andres Cortes (22-0, 12 knockouts) will face the Philippines’ Charly Suarez (17-0, 9 KOs) in a ten-round junior lightweight clash in Glendale Arizona on September 20th.

The bout will serve not only as the evening’s co-feature on a card headlined by recent Canelo victim Jaime Munguia, but is also pitched as a world title eliminator.

Both fighters are signed to Top Rank, with Suarez sitting on the tail of a three fight deal.

The King's Warrior is now 36 years old, and is definitely viewed as not being as marketable as Andres "Savage" Cortes.

And he certainly has not as heavily invested in as the Las Vegas native.

So should Philippines 🇵🇭 fans be worried ?

Anyone that has watched Charly Suarez can quickly see he is the most technically brilliant boxer that the Philippines has ever produced.

And he is without flaw.

No matter how good Andres Cortes (or any other for that matter) - Suarez possesses a fight template that is just so impossible to beat.

But as the "unloved stepson" in an already crowded Top Rank family, will the Philippines star likely get a fair shake in his upcoming bout in the States ?

Andres Cortes, who beat Teofimo Lopez twice in the amateurs was always viewed as a future goldmine before turning pro.

He has really impressive power and timing to go with his obvious skills, and possesses that killer instinct that fans go crazy for.

Upon signing with Top Rank, it was quoted :

"Andres Cortes is a tremendous action fighter and fits right in with all of the contenders at 130 pounds,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.

“He’s earned a promotional contract and the right to fight on major cards. I truly believe he can be the next homegrown world champion from Las Vegas.”

Cortes said, “This is an incredible opportunity, and I’m thankful to Bob Arum and everyone at Top Rank. Every time I fight, it’s the ‘Savage Show.’ I strive to entertain the fans and give them action-packed fights. With this contract, the sky’s the limit. My goal is to fight in main events and eventually bring a world title home to Las Vegas.”

Cortes is coming off his most notable win to date, though perhaps almost his most disputed as well. The unbeaten North Las Vegas native edged Abraham Nova (23-2, 16 KOs) in a June 24 disputed points win in Las Vegas. With the win came the expectation of a title shot soon to follow.

That dream remains in place, though Cortes wisely chose activity while building towards that moment.

“Ever since the Nova fight, I’ve been working on my craft in the gym,” insisted Cortes, who fights for the third time this year. “I’m showing the world my full arsenal on September 20. I want a world title shot soon, and I need to earn it with a devastating performance over Suarez.”

There is no doubt that the September 22nd bout between Andres Cortes and Charly Suarez delivers the clash between two of the world's best 130lb fighters - so let's hope the result is clear and without controversy.

Charly Suarez for the win - and Philippines next world champion !

July 17, 2024

SUAREZ PUMPED FOR SEPTEMBER RETURN

Welcome faces at Elorde Gym today were Philippines' best Charly Suarez and former national team mate and coach Delfin Boholst.

Suarez has a pending fight in the States in September, but at this stage, no opponents are stepping up. The King's Warrior has been a heavily avoided fighter in his short pro career, and hopefully we see this future world champ suitably matched in this coming bout.

Pictured with the duo today are coach Jun Labandia, Giovanni Escaner, and of course the Queen herself, Her Majesty Cucuy Elorde.

April 17, 2024

VIETNAM GUEST WINS IN AMERICAN RETURN

Charly Suarez has been a regular visitor to Vietnam. He fought an exhibition bout with Nguyễn Văn Hải at Victory8 in Hanoi, and he won the WBC belt at Ho Tram against Indonesia’s champion Defry Palulu.

Today he was Stateside, winning his return bout in Corpus Christi Texas on a Top Rank event. Suarez broke his hand in August of last year, but resumed in style today in a near shutout win over America's Luis Coria.

It was an emphatic performance, and likely to earn Suarez a world title eliminator shot at his next outing.

April 14, 2024

SUAREZ WINS IN RETURN ON AMERICAN SOIL

JUST IN: Charly Suarez Official scores a unanimous decision victory over Luis Coria (77-74, 76-75 & 77-74).

Congratulations King's Warrior

World title awaits !

April 7, 2024

SUAREZ SCARES OFF HENRY LEBRON TEAM

The Philippines' Charly Suarez always looks great in sparring, but apparently a session where the King's Warrior was "on fire" was witnessed by the coach of Henry Lebron - and was enough for them to immediately pull out of their world title eliminator next Saturday night.

Lebron has now been consigned to the "Top Rank Scaredy Cat" bench warmers list, and will be replaced by Luis Coria 15-6 in what is Suarez return from a broken hand last August.

A win for Suarez will guarantee him a world title eliminator at his next outing - and you can bet your bottom dollar it won't be Henry Lebron in the other corner !

Charly Suarez fights on a Top Rank show in Corpus Christi Texas next Saturday night April 13th.

April 6, 2024

SUAREZ BACK BETTER THAN EVER

The Philippines' best boxer Charly Suarez resumes next Saturday on a big Top Rank show in Corpus Christi Texas - 8 long months after sustaining a broken hand in August of last year.

Despite looking comfortable in a lopsided decision win, Suarez actually did the damage in round one against tough Yohan Vasquez, and was forced to fight the remainder of their bout in southpaw.

An incredible effort !

The King's Warrior Charly Suarez last fought in Vietnam in December 2022 (hence the Christmas tree !) and followed up his win at Ho Tram with a 4 title win in Australia over unbeaten star Paul Fleming.

Suarez has been promised a world title eliminator bout if successful in next week's American bout, and all his friends at VSP wish him a career defining performance on that big stage.

Good luck Charly boy !

March 28, 2024

BRAVO CORIA - LEBRON SENT PACKING !

Puerto Rican 🇵🇷Henry Lebron (19-0)'s clean card was ready to get shredded.

So, the Lebron team have opted out of world title contention, and Charly Suarez will have a new dance partner in Luis Coria.

🇵🇭 Charly Suarez (16-0) with 9 KO’s

🇺🇸 Luis Coria (15 Wins with 6 losses) 7 KO’s

Super featherweight bout

🗓️April 13, 2024 Saturday

🏟️American Bank Canter, Texas USA

*credit to KOboxing

#koboxingchannel

#boxing

#philippineboxing

#sports

March 10, 2024

CHARLY SUAREZ THE UNDERDOG ???

Unless they plan on using the same three judges as the Tim Bradley-Manny Pacquiao fight - they got this one very wrong !!

Charly lights this guy up.

⚡⚡𝐒𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐙 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐃𝐎𝐆 🥊𝐑𝐎𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄💪 🇵🇭Charly "King's Warrior" Suarez 16-0 is set to face Puerto Rican 🇵🇷Henry "Moncho" Lebron 19-0 on April 13, 2024 in Corpus Christi, Texas, United States🇺🇲.

With aspirations of securing a world title this year, Suarez must emerge victorious against Lebron to enhance his standing in the super featherweight world rankings.

🌀 1XBET ODDS

🇵🇭SUAREZ 3.1

🇵🇷LEBRON 1.3

Boxing Bida Best Fairtex Philippines

#1xbet #BOXINGBIDABEST

March 6, 2024

SUAREZ RETURNS 13TH APRIL

Henry Lebron is touted as Top Rank's next world champion at 130lb.

Bad news Henry ! King's Warrior is coming for that very same work on April 13th in Corpus Christi Texas.

Great fight boys !

August 30, 2023

SUAREZ IN HAND CAST FOR 6 WEEKS

The King's Warrior will have his broken right hand in a protective cast for the next 6 weeks, but the good news is, he is expected to make a full recovery.

Suarez staged an amazing effort to stay composed after injuring the hand early in round one, and being put under constant pressure by excellent Dominican Yohan Vasquez.

It was a bitter sweet US debut for the Philippines best boxer, who will be hoping for a ring return later this year.

August 27, 2023

CHARLY SUAREZ BREAKS HIS HAND

Despite a dominant win at his USA debut, the King's Warrior Charly Suarez was the victim of misfortune.

Suarez broke his hand early in round one, forcing him to turn to his amateur skills and box his way to victory. The Philippines star turned southpaw frequently in the bout to ensure he survived the ten rounds against his rugged opponent Yohan Vasquez.

August 27, 2023

SUAREZ WINS ON USA DEBUT

Charly Suarez turned away a scrappy challenge from Yohan Vasquez to enjoy a successful U.S. debut. after a ten-round, unanimous decision victory over Dominican Republic’s Vazquez. Scores were 98-92, 98-92 and 97-93 for Suarez in the opening bout of the evening.

Action from bell to bell was entertaining and competitive, to the point where Vasquez (25-4, 20KOs) was disappointed when he heard the lopsided scores. Suarez landed the crisper combinations and cleaner punches but was forced to fend off Vasquez who effectively cut off the ring in the middleweights.

Suarez—a 35-year-old from General Santos City, Philippines—regained control late in the fight to advance to 16-0 (9KOs). The bout was his third straight on the road, having previously posted wins in Vietnam last December and a come-from-behind 12th round stoppage of unbeaten Paul Fleming on March 15 in Sydney, Australia.

August 22, 2023

SUAREZ - FIGHT CAMP DONE - "LET'S FIGHT !"

The King's Warrior Charly Suarez has just completed his preparations in Las Vegas for this Sunday’s fight, and reports he is in killer shape and more than ready to fight.

Suarez will battle Dominican Yohan Vasquez 25-2, a hard hitter with 22 knockouts on his resume.

The Davao son was able to get some fast paced rounds in with both sons of fabled Ferocious Fernando Vargas, and also share the ring with Chris Eubank jr (pictured). Prior to that, the champ worked with Philippines national team members back home in Baguio.

Despite the calibre of his opponent, and the question marks surrounding his first bout in the US, Suarez will enter the ring a heavy favourite to put opponent Vasquez to the sword.

Suarez v Vasquez will take place at the Hard Rock Casino in Tulsa Oklahoma this Sunday.

August 16, 2023

SUAREZ STAKES UNBEATEN RECORD ON USA DEBUT AUGUST 26

CEBU CITY, Philippines– Charly Suarez, the unbeaten and world-rated super featherweight contender nicknamed “King’s Warrior” will debut in the United States on August 26, 2023.

The 34-year-old Olympian turned professional boxer will face Dominican Republic’s Yohan Vasquez in a non-title bout at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

This will be Suarez’s first fight in five months. His most recent bout was nothing short of impressive as he wrested three regional titles and earned a world title bout.

Last March 15, he went to Sydney Australia to challenge the erstwhile International Boxing Federation (IBF) Inter-Continental, International Boxing Organization (IBO) Inter-Continental, and World Boxing Council (WBC) Asia super featherweight king Paul Fleming.

The Filipino scored a technical knockout in the 12th round against Fleming for a resounding upset.

The victory catapulted Suarez to No. 7 in the IBF super featherweight division, No. 10 in the World Boxing Organization (WBO), and No. 15 in the WBC.

He remains unbeaten with 15 wins and nine knockouts. Besides the three regional titles, Suarez is also the IBF Asia super featherweight king.

Meanwhile, Vasquez, 29, has a more experienced record. The former Dominican Republic lightweight champion holds a record of 25 wins, 20 knockouts, and three defeats.

*story courtesy Cebu Daily News

August 7, 2023

SUAREZ IN VEGAS PREP FOR AUGUST RETURN

The King's Warrior Charly Suarez is enjoying quality sparring in Las Vegas in preparation for a ring return later this month.

Davao boxer Suarez (15-0) will head to Oklahoma to take on Yohan Vasquez (25-3) in a ten round non title contest.

The match represents a "stay busy" bout for Suarez, who was last seen fighting in Australia in March.

He won in spectacular fashion on that occasion, defeating unbeaten champion Paul Fleming by last round knockout, and picking up 4 regional titles in the process.

April 24, 2023

SUAREZ v NGUYỄN VĂN HẢI FULL FIGHT

Take a trip down memory lane !

Hanoi Vietnam October 2019, and last night's big winner Nguyễn Văn Hải fights an exhibition bout with world title mandatory Charly Suarez.

Cracking bout showcasing two of Asia's best !!!

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https://youtu.be/_rcPFuJbQts

April 21, 2023

CHARLY SUAREZ MEETS THE PRESIDENT

Philippines star boxer was celebrated by none other than President BongBong Marcos today at an awards ceremony in Manila.

Also acknowledged for their outstanding achievements were world champion boxers Melvin Jerusalem and Marlon Tapales.

April 21, 2023

THIS IS THE FIGHT THAT "MUST" HAPPEN !!!

Charly Suarez recently ventured to Australia to take on a man who VSP regarded as that country's best 130lb fighter - Paul "Showtime" Fleming.

The match was as exciting and dramatic as expected, with Suarez clinching victory courtesy of a last round knockout.

But despite the quality of that encounter, there are those in Australia less than convinced.

The feedback was that perhaps Fleming was "faded", that maybe Suarez got lucky, with even some there referring to the Philippines' best as a "cab driver !"

The overwhelming sentiment is that these two great fighters would be no match for a younger and more powerful Liam Wilson.

Queensland star Liam Wilson was responsible for the knockout of former top Philippines 130lb Joe Noynay, and despite a loss, consolidated his fearsome reputation with a cracking display against Emanuel Navarrete just recently.

In an ominous show of power, Wilson rag dolled Navarrete and became the first man in the world to drop the staunch WBO champ.

Impressive stuff, and for Wilson, there are surely big wins ahead.

But Charly Suarez is far and away the best boxer in the Philippines right now, so for Wilson, he represents another significant but exciting challenge.

So how about it NO LIMIT,

let's fight our two roosters and let's see who comes out victorious !!!!

This is a huge fight for Australia, and for sure, for betting shops, as everyone in the Philippines will be putting their cash on the "cab driver" from Davao !

Latest news

January 11, 2025

VSP PROMOTIONS HAS GONE GLOBAL !!

It's official.

Boxing is indeed your passport to the world !

You will have noticed that VSP has been spruiking the potential of Papua New Guinea's 🇵🇬 boxers for some time now.

Junior Kauko Raka pioneered his flag with high level bouts in the Philippines and Vietnam, and now other top prospects are following his path.

Paul Nasari and Neutral Corner Promotions in Australia are big supporters of the growth of the sport, and have offered up some great fights on their March 29th card.

But it's going to be super hard to beat this one !

The "BOUGAINVILLE BOMBER" FIDELIS LAIA will make his pro debut against a guy who is revered in Vietnam - Jayden "the Bullet" Buan.

Jayden was a former amateur standout, who came to Vietnam as a 16 year old and performed on the biggest stages of Victory8.

He has since gone pro, and is an unbeaten 3-0.

But rather than duck and weave an easy path, the Bullet is embracing far more challenging opponents to fast track his pro education.

AND FIDELIS LAIA IS "MORE CHALLENGING" !

The Bougainville amateur team member has overcome numerous challenges and setbacks in his amateur journey, yet was still able to attain the status of twice been awarded national champ.

He has also tasted success in Oceania tournaments, which affords him that extremely valuable experience that will carry through to his pro debut.

And what a debut !

Whilst it could be argued that it's hard to find a more difficult first up assignment than Jayden Buan, the Bougainville Bomber was crafted from granite and tailor made for the professional format.

Win - lose - draw - expect to see an EPIC BATTLE to be produced courtesy of this man from Bougainville - Fidelis Laia 🇵🇬

Kudos Paul Nasari and the team at Neutral Corner for making these great fights and giving our boys a stage to shine !

#vspboxing #vietnamboxing #VSPPromotions #NeutralCornerPromotions

January 10, 2025

TADURAN THE COMEBACK KID

IBF World Champion Pedro Taduran has been nominated in two categories by the prestigious RING magazine.

As per their media :

THE RING AWARDS Upset of the Year Nominees 🏆

These victories shocked the world and reminded us why we love this sport.

🥊 Bakhram Murtazaliev TKO3 Tim Tszyu

🥊 Bruno Surace KO6 Jaime Munguia

🥊 Liam Paro UD12 Subriel Matias

🥊 Angelo Leo KO10 Luis Alberto Lopez

🥊 Phumelele Cafu SD12 Kosei Tanaka

🥊 Pedro Taduran TKO9 Ginjiro Shigeoka

The nights that rewrote the script. Winner announced Jan 11th 🥊

THE RING AWARDS Comeback of the Year Nominees 🏆

True champions are defined not by their falls, but by how they rise. These fighters showed the heart of boxing in 2024 with incredible returns to glory.

Winner announced Jan 11th 🥊

#RINGMagazine

January 9, 2025

LACAR SECURES WBC TITLE IN CHINA

Nice write up by the WBC after Surigao's Vencent Lacar posted an epic win over Olympian Bin Lu on December 28th.

"Filipino boxer Vencent Lacar made history on December 28, 2024, with a sensational performance to capture the WBC Far East flyweight title. Lacar overcame the experienced former Olympian and world title challenger Bin Liu of China in a dramatic bout held during the Boxing Gala in Haikou, China.

The highly anticipated contest lived up to expectations, with both fighters showcasing their skills and determination. Lacar’s speed, precision, and resilience proved decisive in a closely contested 10-round battle. The split decision victory was a testament to the Filipino pugilist’s grit and tactical acumen against a formidable opponent on Liu’s home soil.

The judges’ scorecards reflected the competitive nature of the fight. Two judges scored the bout in favor of Lacar, with tallies of 98-92 and 97-93, while the third judge saw it 94-96 for Liu. Despite the split verdict, the majority decision cemented Lacar’s status as one of the rising stars in the flyweight division.

Lacar’s victory is a significant milestone in his career, as he adds the prestigious WBC Far East flyweight title to his resume. His triumph also serves as an inspiration to Filipino boxing fans and underscores the country’s rich tradition in the sport.

With this win, Lacar has positioned himself as a serious contender for a potential world title opportunity, further solidifying his reputation on the international stage."

#vsppromotions #VSPBoxing #VSPpromotions #vspboxing #VSPPromotions #vietnamboxing #wbcboxing

January 7, 2025

VIETNAM PRO BOXING - SEE THE WORLD !

Yes - pro boxing is your international passport.

Here's a bit of information for Vietnam boxers to get you started :

How does a Vietnam 🇻🇳 boxer get to experience the thrill of competing in a foreign event ??

Vietnam has next to no shows for professional boxers right now, so most are asking me how do they get a chance to compete outside the country.

Lot's of misinformation and misunderstanding doing the rounds in Vietnam, so here's some basic insights that you might find helpful.

VIETNAM 🇻🇳 PRO BOXERS - FOREIGN EVENTS

To compete in professional bouts overseas, Vietnam boxers must meet specific requirements. VSP Promotions helps facilitate overseas fights for Vietnam boxers.

Most international promoters and commissions generally require:

1. At least 2-3 professional bouts listed in BoxRec.

2. A valid professional boxing license (VBO)

3. Medical clearance, sometimes including a brain scan and blood tests.

International promoters often require boxers that fulfill one of these three categories :

1. 4-6 round bouts: Typically for less experienced boxers, with smaller purses - $200-500 per round.

2. 6-8 round fights: For higher-end boxers, with larger purses. $2000-4000 per fight.

3. Title matches: Usually 10-12 rounds, requiring a strong record and sanctioning body ranking. Purses can vary a lot, depending on weight class and the title, but $4000-30,000 is typical.

Eligibility Criteria for Title Matches

1. Minimum 10 wins.

2. Wins in last 2 fights.

3. Sanctioning body ranking.

4. High-level amateur record.

The international promoter is responsible for :

The contract for the bout and invitation letter to the boxer and any other team members.

The contract will also detail the Promoter's obligation to provide Air tickets, visas, transfers, the agreed prize money, accommodation, meals or a meal allowance in cash (per diems)

How does a Vietnam boxer register :

1. You must register with your local commission - Vietnam Boxing Organization (VBO)

2. Advise your interest with VSP Promotions, or any another reputable promoter, that can market you to overseas promoters, and inform them of your availability to fight.

3. If you are a registered amateur, you must seek an approval letter from VBF or HBF endorsing that you can be made available for a specified international pro bout.

Travel and Licensing Requirements

1. You will need to hold a valid passport with at least six months' validity.

2. Obtain a visa for the country where the fight will take place, if required.

The foreign promoter will pay for this.

3. Register with the athletic commission or governing body of the country where the fight will take place.

The foreign promoter will pay for this.

Hope this information helps guys - and in the meantime

SO STAY READY !!

#vspboxing #vsppro #boxingvietnam #VSPPromotions #vietnamboxingorganization #vbo #WBC #WBO #IBF

January 4, 2025

VENCENT LACAR ENTERS IN STYLE

The walkout into the Wuyuanhe arena by Surigao's Vencent Lacar.

Less than an hour later, the Philippines 🇵🇭 fighter was hoisting the WBO and WBC belts after a monumental win over Chinese Olympian Bin Lu.

January 6, 2025

WHO WILL SHINE FOR VIETNAM IN 2025 ?

Lots to look forward to for our future stars in the year ahead !!

HCMC WANTS PRO BOXING !!!

The Ho Chi Minh Boxing Federation (HBF) are not just looking for more opportunities for their athletes to compete, they also see the benefits that action-packed sports entertainment like pro boxing potentially bring to this vibrant city.

The HBF have already taken the visionary steps to inform their friends and industry in many social media posts.

HBF boss Mr. Nguyễn Vinh Nghi is only relatively new to his role - but has already made a huge impact for Vietnam 🇻🇳 professional boxing.

He has been pivotal in getting Vietnam boxers opportunities to fight overseas, and provided stewardship for the most recent local event in Ho Chi Minh City.

Expect to see many more exciting events in Saigon this coming year - starting February.

Vietnam 🇻🇳 boxers were also were becoming an exciting brand as last year progressed, and were in increasing demand.

VSP sent boxers to Australia,Tanzania, Russia, Dubai, South Korea, Taiwan and China.

2025 will see that PRO BOXERS become 🇻🇳 Vietnam's proudest export.

BRING IT ON !!!

December 24, 2024

2024 VBO ANNUAL REPORT

December 24, 2024

Dear Partners,

I would like to take this moment to first wish you and your family a safe and blessed holiday season.

This annual report serves as a benchmark for our progress and a commitment to transparency in our operations. In 2024, a notable decline occurred in the number of professional boxing events held domestically. This downturn was primarily attributed to the cessation of grassroots events by VSP Promotions, a key promoter that played a crucial role in introducing new talent to the domestic professional boxing scene.

The challenges faced in organizing professional boxing events in Vietnam intensified in 2024 compared to the previous year, a reflection of the current market conditions. We anticipate this trend to persist in 2025 due to the continued existence of an unsupportive environment for event organizers, fostered by the local amateur boxing federation.

VBO organized the gathering of 10 commissions in Asia in 8/2024. It is our view that Asia has a fundamental challenge in how boxing is managed and supervised. Standardization and coherent cooperation models that have actionable and measurable outcomes will need to be developed in order to create more regional opportunities for the industry participants.

DOMESTIC REPORT 2024

	2024	2023
Events supervised by VBO	4 of 5	13 of 15
Total number of bouts in the year	35	132
Number of Vietnamese Boxers	42	176
Number of debut boxers	23	89
Number of new female boxers in 2024	none	10
Number of Title fights in Vietnam in 2024 (excluding non-VBO sanctioned events)	WBO Asia Pacific Feather WBO Global Minimum x 2 IBF Asia Pacific Welter	WBO Oriental Youth WBO Global Minimum
Safety Incidents	None	None

INTERNATIONAL REPORT 2024

Number of Countries represented in Vietnam	11
Botswana, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Mongolia, Russia, Thailand, USA, Vietnam
Number of Overseas events for Vietnamese boxers	Taiwan (2), Korea (3), Russia (1), China (2)
Number of Overseas bouts for Vietnamese boxers	8
Performance by Vietnamese boxers overseas	4 Wins / 6 Losses

The VBO remains dedicated to securing international fight opportunities for Vietnamese boxers within safe environments. While the organization provides recommendations, the final decision to accept a fight rests solely with the boxers and their coaching teams.

OFFICIALS OF VBO REPORT 2024

Number of officials under VBO	8
Number of trainings provided to Officials	3 times
Number of training hours provided to Officials	3 hours

VBO collects detailed performance data of each official in their assigned roles at every event. We compile these data for use towards training requirements to further improve their performance.

We hope that 2025 will bring more opportunities for the boxers between partnering countries and jointly continue to improve the quality of our officials. Have a wonderful holiday season! See you all in 2025.

Sincerely,

Lim Song

President of Vietnam Boxing Organization

December 30, 2024

VENCENT LACAR DEFYS ALL ODDS

Undefeated Vencent Lacar of Surigao del Norte gave Chinese Olympian Bin Lu a neat boxing lesson Saturday night in Haikou, China.

Despite only having eight professional fights going into the fight, Lacar, who didn’t have any amateur experience, conducted a master class en route to snatching the World Boxing Council Far East and World Boxing Organization Oriental flyweight titles via split decision.

The scorecards read: 96-94 (Lacar), 97-93 (Lacar) and 96-94 (Lu).

The stunning win came with a nice prize.

“It was a really good performance. Bin Lu was way more experienced, very technical but Vencent stayed focused the entire 10 rounds, used his jab, range and distance really well,” said Vietnam-based promoter Robert Hill of VSP Promotions, who was at ringside.

“His work rate was great.”

The victory boosted Lacar’s win-loss mark to 9-0 with four stoppages.

Lacar, who only turned pro a little over two years ago, was clearly the underdog on paper against the southpaw Lu, who saw his record sink to 4-2.

The Chinese had challenged unsuccessfully to win the World Boxing Association light-fly crown in 2018 in Malaysia.

Before embarking on a pro career, Lu won gold in the 2012 Youth Olympics in Armenia and represented China in the 2016 Rio Olympics where he went as far as the round-of-16.

*story courtesy of Nick Giongco - Daily Tribune

December 19, 2024

VENCENT LACAR GUNS FOR 2 BELTS DEC 28TH

Surigao del Norte prospect Vencent Lacar 🇵🇭 will be representing the Philippines in China on December 28th when he contests the co-main event for not just one, but two major titles.

Lacar will fight China's Olympian Bin Lu for the WBO Oriental and WBC Far East Titles at flyweight.

Bin Lu is looking to parlay his outstanding amateur form into the world pro rankings, but the unbeaten pinoy has vowed to put an end to those aspirations.

December 9, 2024

THE TRIGGERMAN SHOOTS TO KILL !

Zamboanga heavy hitter Weljon Mindoro stops Aussie Joel Camilleri with a 4th round TKO in Dubai just moments ago.

It was a sensational result for the Philippines 🇵🇭 boxer known as "The Triggerman" , as the experienced Camilleri had never been dropped in a long amateur and professional career.

Huge poise and pressure applied with blunt force trauma - the sky is the limit for Mindoro !

December 7, 2024

WHY BOXING IS THE GREATEST !

"I’ve been questioned why I take photos with my opponents the next day, especially after a defeat.

A true boxing person knows that boxing is a sport of respect, of honour, a sport that only very few have the balls to do. We aren’t enemies after the fight, we aren’t enemies before, we are just rivals in the lead up.

This man went to war with me last night and came out as the victor. For that, he deserves all of the respect in the world 🌍

I’m a tough mofo, but this man was the better and stronger warrior on the night.

Win or lose, my opponents earn my full respect for sharing the ring with me.

Much respect Weljon Mindoro 🤜🏼🤛🏼

You have a big future in the sport 💯👊🏼🇵🇭"

- JOEL CAMILLERI

December 5, 2024

AUSTRALIA v PHILIPPINES READY TO GO !

Joel Camilleri and Weljon Mindoro made weight and are looking in crazy shape for tomorrow night's clash in Dubai.

The pair will be part of the IBA Champions event to be held the The Agenda function centre in Dubai.

The 8 round bout will be a real test for the boy from Zamboanga, who has won all his previous fights by KNOCKOUT !

Interestingly, the experienced Australian opponent has never touched the canvas in either the amateurs or the pros - including a torrid battle against former world champion Tim Tszyu.

This will be a cracking fight. We will show the live feed here tomorrow night.

December 4, 2024

PACMAN - IT AIN'T OVER TILL IT'S OVER

The sand in the hourglass of Manny Pacquiao’s on-again, off-again flirtation with fighting could be winding down.

The Filipino icon turns 46 years old on December 17, has not fought professionally since 2021, looked like a shell of himself in a July exhibition, and is pursuing a political role in his native Phillippines early next year.

Although the eight-division champion Pacquiao, 62-8-2 (39 KOs), is a sure-fire lock to be a first-ballot International Boxing Hall of Famer when the inductees are announced later this month, “Pacman” still believes he has one more run left in him.

“He's running for Senate in the Phillippines from February 11 to May 11. If he gets something by January 31, 2025 he's ready to rumble,” Pacquiao’s promoter and right-hand man Sean Gibbons told BoxingScene. “I don't know what's going to happen after that … With Manny, he could be fighting until he's 50.”

Pacquiao had been linked to a potential bout against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios throughout the year but after looking vulnerable in his exhibition against Rukiya Anpo, Barrios instead turned the page to a title defense against Abel Ramos in November.

“Manny didn't look as good against Anpo because of a lot of things behind the scenes that went into it,” Gibbons explained. “He didn't overly prepare for it. He thought he was fighting someone else and it ended up being a bigger guy. He felt great. What else can you do? It was an exhibition. He was there just to move around. The other guy thought it was a real fight. He came to make a name off of Manny and Manny still easily cruised through the thing for a guy that got off the couch.

“I told Manny that the Barrios fight was the perfect fight to make. Things got in the way with certain people in his ear, but that fight is still possible. It could happen in June, July, or August – one last one.”

Time is running out for Pacquiao if he’s solely planning to face Barrios to become a world champion once again. On Friday, Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn said he made an offer for Barrios to next face Conor Benn.

*story courtesy of Boxing Scene

December 3, 2024

DAO TO FIGHT AT TAIPEI ARENA ON DEC 21

It's like a scene from Gladiator 2 !!

Taiwan has long been a haven for amateur boxing talent, and are now slowly testing the waters in the professional format.

This month, Vietnam 🇻🇳 boxer Tran Tan Quang Dao ventures to Taiwan to take on one of their best, and the action will go down at the prestigious Taipei Arena.

That's a quantum leap from a guy rated one of the most promising at VSP PRO, and throwing leather at VSP Gym !

Here's the story :

Vietnam 🇻🇳 boxer Tran Tan Quang Dao is set to fight one of one of Taiwan's emerging stars at the Taipei Arena on December 21st.

Kai Yu Hsieh is an unbeaten prospect and rapidly making a name for himself in the boxing world. With a perfect record of 2 wins, both victories were dominant shutout performances on points, showcasing advanced skills and technical prowess.

Hsieh's amateur background is equally impressive, having won the gold medal in the national amateur championships at 64kg.

But Hsieh's next bout against Tran Tan Quang Dao will be a significant test of his skills, and obviously a great opportunity to gain more experience and exposure.

But Tran Tan Quang Dao is on that similar path, and has implemented a "duck nobody" policy !

Identical to his opponent, Dao has already secured two wins, and many argue that he was unfortunate not to have added two more victories to his record. His two most recent bouts were closely contested, with some observers believing that the decisions could have gone in his favor.

That said, Dao is constantly seeking improvements to his craft along with new challenges, and his clash with Kai Yu Hsieh will be an excellent tribute to close out 2024.

#vspboxing #vsppro #boxingvietnam #VSPPromotions #vietnamboxingorganization #vbo

December 3, 2024

HAI TO MAKE A SPLASH ON JEJU ISLAND !

The "Hanoi Hitman" looks to close out 2024 in Korea next month - and he promises to do so in devastating fashion !

Hai is booked to fight former national champ Min Guk Ju - a southpaw boxer with 9 wins to his credit.

The bout will take place on Jeju Island South Korea on December 15th.

The Seoul based boxer is certainly an interesting opponent, and there are many question marks surrounding his chances in a fight with the Vietnam star.

Min Guk Ju has not fought since October of last year, yet his decision to take on a tough opponent like Nguyễn Văn Hải suggests that he is very confident of recapturing his very best form.

It also speaks loudly of a boxer that is looking to fast track his world rankings.

Min Guk Ju was controversially beaten for the WBC Asia Continental title in China - a bout he lost narrowly on points despite knocking his opponent down in the contest.

He was then stopped in Japan by the unbeaten Chihiro Iwashita - a real "hell fight" where at any moment, either boxer could get have dropped, and both were tasting moments of success.

Suffice to say - the Korean boxer is high calibre, and with vengeance on his mind, will be looking to make a statement with a victory over the classy Nguyễn Văn Hải.

But the Hanoi Hitman has plans of his own !

"Boxing has been very good to me. I get to make new friends, and I am always excited to visit new parts of the world. I am very lucky !

This will be my first chance to visit Jeju Island in Korea - I heard it is a very beautiful place.

I have full respect to my opponent - he has been a champion, and he is looking to make his mark again in the game of boxing.

But this year will end badly for him.

Hai plans to knock him out and deliver a beautiful gift to the people of Jeju Island.

I'm looking for bigger fights in 2025, so I will be devastating with Min Guk Ju.

No mercy !"

#vsppromotions #vspboxing #vsppro #boxingvietnam ##vietnamboxingorganization #vbo

November 29, 2024

VENCENT LACAR EYES TITLES ON DEC 28TH

The WBO hosted a packed media conference today, sharing details of some big title matches coming up in China on December 28th.

Leon Panoncillo, the Chairman of WBO International, previewed the big fights that await, and most importantly, what belts are at stake.

VSP Promotions are providing two of the headline bouts for this iconic event which will be held in Haikou, the capital of picturesque Hainan island.

Vencent Lacar 🇵🇭 a fighter from Surigao del Norte, will fight China's Olympian Bin Lu for the WBO Oriental and WBC Far East Titles at flyweight.

Ablaikhan Khussainov 🇰🇿 is a top prospect based in Almaty Kazakhstan, and he will be in search of the WBO Intercontinental belt at the expense of the unbeaten Yongquiang Yang. This Lightweight clash is foreshadowed to be the main event of the evening.

Congratulations to the organizers Hainan Golden Belt Sports Promotions for a highly successful media day.

#vspboxing #vsppro #vietnamboxingorganization #boxingvietnam #VSPPromotions #vbo #WBO

November 27, 2024

KHUSSAINOV ON HUNT FOR WBO BELT IN CHINA

In the heart of Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, nestled in the foothills of the majestic Tian Shan mountains, a relatively unknown boxing "sensation" has been quietly working on conquering the world.

Ablaikhan Khussainov, a proud son of Almaty, has long been groomed for greatness in the sport of boxing, and will be unveiled by VSP Promotions at a big event on iconic Hainan Island next month.

Growing up in a family passionate about sports and boxing, Khussainov was introduced to the sweet science from a young age. He spent countless hours honing his craft, driven by a fierce determination to succeed. As an amateur, Khussainov racked up an impressive record of 230 wins from 250 fights, showcasing his exceptional skill and tenacity. And it was this success that laid the foundation for a promising professional career.

Khussainov already boasts the impressive stats of 13-1 (10KO) in the pros, but opportunities are not easy to come by in his homeland.

So Khussainov abides by a "have gloves will travel" mindset, with the majority of his fights taking place outside of his country.

The adventurous boxer has already competed in quality bouts in Canada, China, Dubai, Mexico and Russia in his short pro career.

The 33 year old orthodox puncher draws inspiration from his idol, the legendary Kazakh boxer Gennady Golovkin (GGG).

Like Golovkin, Khussainov harbors ambitions of becoming a world champion, and his unwavering dedication to training suggests he is willing to put in the hard work necessary to achieve his goal.

When not in the gym, Khussainov enjoys relaxing in the mountains surrounding Almaty, often going hiking and climbing to clear his mind and recharge his batteries. This connection to nature helps him stay grounded and focused on his objectives.

As Khussainov prepares to face the unbeaten Yongquiang Yang for the WBO International title on December 28th, there are many in Kazakhstan that confidently suggest that this is the "big break" that he has been working towards. A win will see him step up towards the big fights that he has been dreaming of.

But every mountain summit has it's challenges, and China’s current WBO champion Yongquiang Yang has looked simply indomitable in recent appearances.

Will the mountain warrior from Almaty prove victorious and take a significant step towards realizing his world championship dreams?

#vietnamboxingorganization #vspboxing #vsppro #boxingvietnam #VSPPromotions #vbo

November 26, 2024

VSP TO PLAY IN BEAUTIFUL TAIPEI CITY

VSP Promotions are sending boxers to some beautiful parts of the world this December - and it doesn't get much nicer than the capital city Taipei ! Taiwan has long produced excellent amateur boxers, and is now investing in the professional sport.

Vietnam 🇻🇳 boxer Tran Tan Quang Dao is set to fight one of one of Taiwan's emerging stars at the Taipei Arena on December 21st.

Hsieh's amateur background is equally impressive, having won the gold medal in the national amateur championships at 64kg.

But Hsieh's next bout against Tran Tan Quang Dao will be a significant test of his skills, and obviously a great opportunity to gain more experience and exposure.

But Tran Tan Quang Dao is on that similar path, and has implemented a "duck nobody" policy !

That said, Dao is constantly seeking improvements to his craft along with new challenges, and his clash with Kai Yu Hsieh will be an excellent tribute to close out 2024.

#vspboxing #vsppro #boxingvietnam #VSPPromotions #vietnamboxingorganization #vbo

November 24, 2024

DAO TAKES ONE OF TAIWAN'S TOP PROSPECTS

Vietnam 🇻🇳 boxer Tran Tan Quang Dao is set to fight one of one of Taiwan's emerging stars at the Taipei Arena on December 21st.

Kai Yu Hsieh, an unbeaten prospect and making a name for himself in the boxing world. With a perfect record of 2 wins, both victories were dominant shutout wins on points, showcasing his impressive skills and technical prowess.

Hsieh's amateur background is equally impressive, having won the gold medal in the national amateur championships at 64kg.

But Hsieh's next bout against Tran Tan Quang Dao will be a significant test of his skills, and obviously a great opportunity to gain more experience and exposure.

But Tran Tan Quang Dao is on that similar path, and has implemented a "duck nobody" policy !

That said, Dao is constantly seeing improvements to his craft along with new challenges, and his clash with Kai Yu Hsieh will be an excellent tribute to close out 2024.

#vspboxing #vsppro #boxingvietnam #VSPPromotions #vietnamboxingorganization #vbo

November 24, 2024

NGUYỄN VĂN HẢI ON A KOREAN "KO" MISSION

The "Hanoi Hitman" looks to close out 2024 in Korea next month - and he promises to do so in devastating fashion !

Hai is booked to fight former national champ Min Guk Ju - a southpaw boxer with 9 wins to his credit. The bout will take place on Jeju Island South Korea on December 15th.

The Seoul based boxer is certainly an interesting opponent, and there are many question marks surrounding his chances in a fight with the Vietnam star.

Min Guk Ju has not fought since October of last year, yet his decision to take on a tough opponent like Nguyễn Văn Hải suggests that he is very confident of recapturing his very best form.

It also speaks loudly of a boxer that is looking to fast track his world rankings.

Min Guk Ju was controversially beaten for the WBC Asia Continental title in China - a bout he lost narrowly on points despite knocking his opponent down in the contest.

He was then stopped in Japan by the unbeaten Chihiro Iwashita - a real "hell fight" where at any moment, either boxer could get have dropped, and both were tasting moments of success.

Suffice to say - the Korean boxer is high calibre, and with vengeance on his mind, will be looking to make a statement with a victory over the classy Nguyễn Văn Hải.

But the Hanoi Hitman has plans of his own !

"Boxing has been very good to me. I get to make new friends, and I am always excited to visit new parts of the world. I am very lucky !

This will be my first chance to visit Jeju Island in Korea - I heard it is a very beautiful place.

I have full respect to my opponent - he has been a champion, and he is looking to make his mark again in the game of boxing.

But this year will end badly for him.

Hai plans to knock him out and deliver a beautiful gift to the people of Jeju Island.

I'm looking for bigger fights in 2025, so I will be devastating with Min Guk Ju.

No mercy !"

#vsppromotions #vspboxing #vsppro #boxingvietnam ##vietnamboxingorganization #vbo

November 22, 2024

HAVE THE WBA LOST THE PLOT ??

It's seems that the World Boxing Association are permanently on their backs with their knees pinned behind their ears !

Years of inconsistent and slutty sanctioning has seen the WBA deleted from the industry's official record keeper BoxRec.

So I guess nobody would be surprised by the following :

"Boxing promoter, Lou DiBella gives his thoughts on WBA president Gilberto J Mendoza’s shameful tweet, where he insisted he would “love to see” Jake Paul vs Julio César Chávez Jr for a “championship belt” "

November 22, 2024

VENCENT LACAR TO FIGHT FOR TITLES IN CHINA

Exciting breaking news is that VSP have just signed Mindanao prospect Vencent Lacar to challenge for both the WBO Oriental and WBC Far East titles on December 28th.

Lacar, who boasts an unblemished 8-0 record, will take on former Chinese Olympian Bin Lu.

The Chinese boxer is world youth champion and Asian Games medalist as an amateur, and sits at 4-1 since turning professional.

The bout will take place at city of Haikou, the capital of the very beautiful Hainan Island off the coast of Vietnam.

Updates on this big fight coming soon - meanwhile, here is some information on the Chinese opponent Bin Lu :

BIN LU

*Name:* Lü Bin (Chinese:, pinyin: Lǔ Bīn)

*Birthdate:* October 18, 1994

*Nationality:* Chinese

*Weight Class:* Light Flyweight

*Stance:* Southpaw

AMATEUR CAREER

- *2012 World Youth Championships:* Won the gold medal

- *2013 Asian Amateur Championships:* Won the bronze medal (light-flyweight)

- *2016 Summer Olympics:* Represented China, reaching the Round of 16

PROFESSIONAL CAREER

- *Debut:* 2017

- *Record:* 4 wins, 1 loss

- *Ranking:* Currently #3 in China

- *Notable Fight:* Challenged for the WBA light-flyweight title in 2018

#vspboxing #vsppro #VSPPromotions

November 19, 2024

HAS THE ZHU DIANXING SHIP SAILED ?

Oscar Collazo's devastating win in Saudi Arabia has thrown down the gauntlet to the Philippines Pedro Taduran by posing the question - just exactly which of these two fistic dynamos is THE GREATEST minimumweight fighter on the planet ??

Collazo destroyed the unbeaten Thammanoon Niyomtrong for the WBO World Title, and announced immediately after the event that it was his ambition to unify all the belts.

But he is late to the party.

Taduran has identical designs on all those belts !

Taduran was meant to fight China's top prospect Zhu DianXing on November 23rd, but the bout was postponed. Those plans now appear to be in tatters.

Expect some big news on Philippines world champ very soon.

* big thanks to Solid Sports Fans for the following story :

Pedro Taduran vs Oscar Collazo! Who will win!

It all comes down to styles and grit. Taduran, the current IBF minimumweight champion, is known for his relentless pressure, unrelenting volume punching, and an almost unbreakable chin. These traits make him a tough puzzle for any fighter, even someone as polished and technical as Collazo.

Collazo’s skill set is undeniable—his recent knockout win over Thammanoon Niyomtrong proves his sharpness and ring IQ. But against someone like Taduran, who can set a grueling pace and attack relentlessly, there’s a chance Collazo’s defensive and stamina vulnerabilities could be exposed.

Taduran’s resume includes battles with elite fighters like Rene Mark Cuarto and Daniel Valladares. While he hasn’t always come out on top, his rugged, fearless style often disrupts the rhythm of opponents. If Taduran can close the gap and turn the fight into a war of attrition, he might have the edge to pull off the upset.

November 17, 2024

TWO YEARS AGO ALREADY !!

We had top young prospects Lê Hoàng Hiep and Phan Minh Quân, who fought out of their skins against international pro boxers with more than 70 wins between them !

Suffice to say, the Vietnam 🇻🇳 team had a great experience and a lot of fun at this show - it was held at the beautiful Grand Ho Tram Resort in the coastal area of Vung Tau.

The visiting international team?

Well - some crazy talent on that side of the fence !

Philippines 🇵🇭 - Charly Suarez, Mark John Yap, Arnel Baconaje, Jetro Pabustan and Jon Jon Estrada.

These guys share plaudits as multiple national and regional title holders, with the unbeaten Suarez currently on the precipice of a world title.

Indonesia 🇮🇩 - Paisal Panjaitan - a really top unbeaten prospect who is now #2 in his country.

Defry Palulu - an Indonesia #2 and WBC belt holder.

South Korea 🇰🇷 - Chan Ho Song - an unbeaten 12-0 guy with blazing hands and a World Youth champ.

Thailand 🇹🇭 - Anuson Thonglueang - a top youth prospect with only one loss in 14 bouts, and who currently sits at #2 rated Welterweight in Thailand.

Thanks for making this FORTUNES OF WAR a very memorable event boys, you put on a thrilling and entertaining show for everyone that was lucky enough to be there to see it.

VSP wish you continued luck and enjoyment in your boxing adventures ahead.

PS. the main event between Dinh Hong Quân 🇭🇰 and Arnel Baconaje 🇵🇭 was watched by more than 2 million people online !

https://youtu.be/wtvhUrz5EVg?si=wFMeYF-L41LBBD7p

November 15, 2024

DANA COOLWELL SET TO OPEN THE SHOW

Australia's Dana Coolwell takes on the unbeaten star Bruce "Shu Shu" Carrington on the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul undercard tomorrow.

5.30am Vietnam 🇻🇳

6.30am Philippines 🇵🇭

9.30am Australia 🇦🇺 (8.30 Queensland)

Check out the great write up by the Glasshouse Country and Maleney News :

DEADLY SET FOR LONE STAR STATUS

AFTER all the blood, sweat and tears in the most intense training camp Dana ‘Deadly’ Coolwell has ever experienced, there’s just one thing left to do.

And that’s defeat up and-coming American featherweight, Bruce ‘Shu Shu’ Carrington, on the undercard of the blockbuster Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul main event. Coolwell is expected to walk into the middle of the 80,000 seat AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas from 8:30am-11am on Saturday, November 16.

The eight-round battle will also be broadcast on Netflix, with estimated viewers upwards of 25 million.

Coming after his last fight – in front of a sellout audience of 500 at the Caloundra RSL earlier this year- Coolwell knows what’s at stake.

“Every young kid playing sports dreams of competing on the biggest stage and I’m absolutely thrilled that this moment has arrived for me,” he said.

Win against Shu Shu and Deadly will have the world at his feet and a world title within his grasp. Lose and it’s a tough road back but if adversity was going to stop him, it would surely have done so by now.

The 25-year-old has overcome significant challenges, including witnessing domestic violence, losing his father at a young age, and experimenting with drugs and alcohol by the age of 12. But at the age of 14 Dana stepped into the Hinterland Boxing Club, where he met trainer and owner Steve Pitt, who would become his long-time coach and friend.

“I’ve been with Steve for 11 years now, and I originally went there for a bit of fitness because I was playing rugby league for the Beerwah Bulldogs,” he said. “But as I started sparring and enjoyed the sport more, I eventually had my first amateur fight after the footy season and I’ve never looked back.”

Dana quickly realised boxing was his calling. “Once I started boxing, I knew I wanted to go professional and that I wanted to win a world title,” he said. “I thought I had enough of the amateurs, so I decided to turn elite when I was 20.”

This marked a turning point in his life, helping Dana stay on the right path. Now competing internationally, his dream of winning a world title by next year is becoming more and more a reality. “Steve has helped me every step of the way,” he said.

“We’ve got a really good relationship, and he helps me not just in the ring but outside of boxing too. We make a great team.” Dana and his coach, Steve, flew to Los Angeles a month before the fight for an intense three-week training camp at Churchill Matchroom Boxing Gym.

“It’s been a really hard one to train for but it is exactly what I needed— coming to America early, getting away from family, and just getting in that fight camp mindset, taking it to another level,” Dana said.

“We did a lot of high-level sparring, which is what I needed to get used to that American style because they fight slightly differently over there. “We have also been working on sharpening up our pad work, fitness sprints, and just staying on track in training and acclimatising to the environment and time difference.”

Dana added that sparring with American boxers similar to Carrington has been invaluable, as they bring a specific style he lacked experience in boxing against. “It’s the typical Mayweather style, like with the shoulder roll, a bit more side-on, and they use their jab more and are a bit more patient, but we have had many different looks at the camp as well,” he said.

“I wouldn’t say it has been harder sparring with American boxers, because there’s a lot of good Australian boxers too, but it’s just the style I need to work on and train against.” Dana said he feels stronger and more prepared than ever, comparing his readiness to his IBO Intercontinental title fi ght at the Caloundra RSL on March 24, where he won. “I’m feeling really good, obviously all the hard work has paid off ,” he said.

“My fitness is right up there, and now I just have to do the last part, which I don’t like, which is making weight. “Once we get to Texas, I’ll be in a bit of a rest and recovery period. “There won’t be much intensive training—just focusing on the weigh-in where I’ll meet Bruce for the first time.” Dana is confident that he will win his bout against Bruce Carrington.

“What sets me apart is the will to want it and everything I’ve put into this fight camp,” he said. “I’m not underestimating him like I believe he’s underestimating me.” Dana flew out of LA on Sunday night, arriving in Arlington, Texas, just days before his life-changing bout. While training was his priority, Dana also took time to enjoy some iconic sights in Los Angeles. “We’ve gone to Venice Beach, Hollywood Boulevard, and a few restaurants around LA,” he said.

The Beerwah local expressed gratitude for the support he’s received from fans back home in Australia. “Thank you to everyone. I’m just so grateful I can do something I love and that so many people support me—it’s pretty cool,” Dana said. Dana is also a father to one, his son Iluka who was born on August 1, 2022. His coach, Steve Pitt, said he had a different look in his eye since his son was born.

“He’s really focused like I haven’t seen him in a long time… the responsibility of becoming a father has really heightened his maturity,” he said. The preliminary card featuring Shadasia Green vs. Melinda Watpool for the WBO Super Middleweight title, Lucas Bahdi vs. Armando Casamonica, and Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington vs. Dana Coolwell, will be broadcast live from 8:30am AEST November 16 on Most Valuable Promotions’ YouTube, Netflix Sports YouTube and Tudum. kirra@gcnews.com.au

November 12, 2024

NETFLIX DEBUT FOR "DEADLY" DANA COOLWELL

Aussie indigenous star Dana Coolwell never officially fought on a VSP show, but we got him a gig in Dubai, and we had a couple of failed attempts to get him to Vietnam.

We also got him Aussie fights with a couple of good VSP boys Lorenz Ladrada and Fernando Tagpuno.

Now Dana has a big fight coming up in the States this Saturday against one of their rising stars - Bruce "Shu Shu" Carrington.

But this ain't no ordinary club show - Dana will be fighting in front of 80,000 people as one of the big Mike Tyson undercard bouts at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas Texas !!

And there's more.

If you are a boxer, you'd never expect to end up on Netflix ! Crazy but true - the streaming giant is sending this worldwide !!

Dana takes on the much hyped American Bruce Carrington - an unbeaten 13-0 top ten Featherweight.

The guy is real slick - but he ain't DEADLY !!

Go Dana !!

ABC News ran a great story a little while back on the indigenous prodigy which we have published before.

It's a great read with some nice insights, so here it is again if you missed it:

THEY SAY EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS and that is true for boxer Dana Coolwell !

The 25-year-old from the Queensland town of Beerwah, roughly an hour's drive north of Brisbane, could have the eyes of over 550 million households worldwide tuning into his fight when he features on Netflix's maiden livestream boxing event in November.

ABC Sport can reveal the Mununjali man, who is the 16th-ranked featherweight in world boxing, will fight undefeated American Bruce Carrington on the undercard of Jake Paul and Mike Tyson.

The fight will take place at the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, with 80,000 spectators expected to pack the Arlington stadium on November 16, AEDT.

"It's life-changing," a humble, softly-spoken Coolwell said.

"It'll be one of the biggest events a fighter from Australia has fought on and I'm very grateful for this opportunity and I just really want to showcase my skills to the world of boxing and put my name in that mix of the world class boxers."

The massive bout for Coolwell, nicknamed Deadly, is in stark contrast to his last fight in March.

He improved his record to 13-2 with a win in front of a sold-out crowd of 500 people at the Caloundra RSL.

It is a moment that Coolwell believes he will thrive in and make the world take notice of his potential.

"I'm just making the walk out to the stage into the ring, and just imagining the crowd. But I think I'll rise to the occasion and feed off the crowd, and it'll bring out the best of me.

"These are the type of fight cards people dream of being on and I'm just really grateful that I get to be a part of it, part of history and fight in front of that many fight fans."

The fight card will be streamed by Netflix and will be available their millions of subscribers.

Sports commentator Renee Gartner said the unique opportunity for Coolwell to fight with potentially hundreds of millions of people watching can become a major moment for the young fighter.

"This is the biggest exposure Dana's possibly gonna be able to get," she said.

"People are gonna be seeing him for the first time on an international stage and beamed into households, 550 million households are worldwide, is going to put his name on everyone's lips.

"This whole undercard is absolutely stacked … We have some of the best female fighters, male fighters, everyone who's a boxing enthusiast is watching it."

"What's the topic of conversation at the moment? It's all about the cost of living and how hard it is for all of us to sort of dip in the pocket.

"People in Australia use sport as a way to sort of escape from the realities of what we're sort of doing on day-to-day life."

Coolwell believes in the American dream

The Australian will head to the United States in the coming weeks, landing in California where he will start his training camp in Santa Monica.

New York-born Carrington, who is undefeated through 13 professional fights, has been on Coolwell's radar for a while according to his coach Stephen Pitt.

"We've wanted the Bruce Carrington fight for a while," he said.

"He's a very well respected and very well liked American boxer … They think he's gonna be next world champion."

While praising the American challenger, Pitt said he believes Coolwell is in equal class to some of the best fighters in the world.

Pitt, who trains Coolwell out of the Hinterland Boxing Club, said he believes his fighter has always had the makings of being Australia's next world champion.

"I've known Dana's a star since he walked in my gym 12 years ago," he said.

"The entire world's going to see what I've known for a long time.

"You know we're not the underdog, we're the underestimated.

"Texans love Australians, Dana's a very likeable young man, he performs well, he speaks well, he holds himself well and we believe that the Americans will adore him."

If he defeats Carrington in his own backyard then he'll take a giant leap towards reeling in his world title opportunity.

November 9, 2024

AND THIS IS WHAT BOXING SHOULD BE !!

Two very exciting prospects met centre ring in Sydney last night- both intent on pushing their world class credentials, and they didn't disappoint. They turned on a cracking main event in front of a sold out and noisy crowd at The Grand Vaudeville !

Emmanuel Shemeza 3-0 from Kenya 🇰🇪 and Jamie Chang 2-0 of Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬 were both sparkling amateurs before recently turning pro.

Shemeza was the boxer who was unluckily eliminated in the Olympic trials by an opponent who ultimately won the bronze medal.

Jamie Chang has battled limited opportunities to become a Pacific Games champion.

And despite the relative inexperience of both boxers at the pro level, their qualities and upside shone like beacons.

The Kenyan was a hot favourite, but Chang's southpaw stance and staunch defense had the champion troubled. And this proved to make it an extremely even contest.

Shemeza was the more fluid and active with his hands, but Jamie Chang threw thoughtful counters with purpose, perhaps even hurting his rival in the 5th round.

Most rounds were too hard to split, but Emmanuel Shemeza looked the more polished, and he finished it with a definitive final round.

Emmanuel Shemeza won by majority decision (MD) against Jamie Chang in this highly anticipated bout!

The judges' scores reflected a closely contested fight, with one judge scoring it 57-57 (a draw), while the other two judges scored in favor of Shemeza, 59-55.

Perhaps a little "home cooking" by the judges - VSP had it 58-56 to the Aussie based Kenyan - but no one would argue that Shemeza deserved the victory.

This was a thrilling matchup between two genuine world-class prospects, and full credit to their respective camps for testing the deep waters.

Congratulations to Paul Nasari and the team at Neutral Corner for making great fights like these, and we hope to see these boys make their mark on the Asian scene in 2025.

#vspboxing #vsppro #neutralcornerpromotions #VSPPromotions #RoyalRumble

November 7, 2024

CHANG AND SHEMEZA TOMORROW NIGHT

The boys are weighed in and ready for an epic battle in Sydney tomorrow night when Pacific Games gold medalist Jamie Chang takes on undefeated Kenyan boxer Emmanuel Shemeza in a thrilling 6-round super flyweight contest at the Grand Vaudeville function centre.

Shemeza hails from the much vaunted Akkawy Gym, and the tall unbeaten 3-0 prospect is already being hailed as a future world prospect.

But he won't have it all his own way !

Jamie Chang shapes as one of Papua New Guinea's top boxing prospects.

He makes his international professional debut courtesy of VSP Promotions. who are working overtime to make great fights for boxers in the Asian region while the local Vietnam scene remains a shambles.

Jamie Chang's appearance comes on the heels of his impressive knockout victory at Port Moresby's Sir John Guise stadium, where he overcame a wrist injury in training to claim his an emphatic victory.

Chang's coach, Ephraim Montoru, is confident in his fighter's abilities, stating

"Jamie is a very good all-round boxer - he does everything right."

However, Montoru also acknowledges that there's still room for improvement, saying

"We are definitely still a work in progress.

The best is yet to come, and exciting times are ahead!"

*The Fight Details:*

- *Date:* November 8th, 2024

- *Location:* Grand Vaudeville function centre, Sydney

- *Opponent:* Emmanuel Shemeza (Kenya)

- *Weight Class:* Super Flyweight

- *Rounds:* 6

*Chang's Background:*

- Pacific Games gold medalist

- 2 wins from 2 professional bouts this year

Will Chang's skills be enough to take down the unbeaten Shemeza?

Tune in to Paul Nasari's Neutral Corner Boxing show "Royal Rumble" to find out!

VSP PROMOTIONS supporting Asia’s best !

November 3, 2024

PNG TEAM ARE SET TO FLY OUT TOMORROW

Papua New Guinea's Junior Kauko Raka and Jamie Chang will arrive in Australia by midday tomorrow in advance of Friday night's "Royal Rumble" in Sydney.

The PNG pairing will be on hand to answer questions at tomorrow night's press conference, and will be accompanied by trainer Ephraim Montoru and assistant Peter Morrison.

VSP Promotions have worked with Paul Nasari to ensure that Australia gets to see the best of Papua New Guinea's current and emerging talent, and Raka and Chang will take on two hot and unbeaten prospects.

It is a credit to the PNG boxers for traveling to the lion's den to compete, and VSP can report that their opponents Jayden Buan and Emmanuel Shemeza had been forced to scour foreign shores in search of competition.

These are two genuine excitement machines that have been continually ducked at the local level, and are keen to build on their already excellent resumes with meaningful bouts.

Royal Rumble this Friday night presented by Neutral Corner Fight Promotions. live from the Grand Vaudeville, Condell Park Sydney 🥊🔥

Also catch all the action live on http://www.livecombatsports.com.au/live-ppv

#NeutralCornerPromotions #RoyalRumble #vspboxing #VSPPromotions #vsppro

October 31, 2024

VSP SENDS PNG TRAIL BLAZERS "DOWN UNDER"

The recent Pacific games gold medalist boxer Jamie Chang is set to attend his first professional international bout in Australia next week.

The top PNG prospect knocked out his opponent in his recent bout at Port Moresby' Sir John Guise stadium, overcoming a wrist injury that had hampered preparations.

Chang already has scored 2 wins from 2 professional bouts this year, but unfortunately, the successes were not recorded in BoxRec.This is not uncommon for PNG events.

Jamie Chang is set perform in Sydney on November 8th 2024, and will be joined Papua New Guinea's lightweight champion - Junior Kauko Raka.

The invitations to Australia were made possible by VSP Promotions, and both boxers will appear on Paul Nasari's Neutral Corner Boxing show "Royal Rumble" to be held at the Grand Vaudeville function centre.

Chang will be facing off against outstanding and unbeaten Kenyan Emmanuel Shemeza of the famed Akkawy Gym in a bantamweight contest over 6 rounds.

Chang's coach Ephraim Montoru (Maikuna Boxing Club) said his fighter is doing very well in his preparation for the upcoming event.

"Jamie is a very good all round boxer - he does everything right. But obviously these are early days, and we are definitely still a work in in progress, and as a team concede there is plenty of room for improvement.

The best is yet to come and exciting times are ahead !

We are taking on a really good fighter named Emmanuel Shemeza for our first test on foreign soil - and its a huge task, but we believe we have a very good chance of winning this fight."

October 24, 2024

AUSTRALIA versus PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Jayden "the Bullet" Buan was once famously quoted as claiming he has better hand speed than Ryan Garcia - and that he also possesses the silky skills that put that guy in the shade.

And Junior "the Prodigy" Raka is simply Old Skool - hard hands, hard head, and hard to beat !!

Great fight coming up in Sydney on November 8th at Paul Nasari's ROYAL RUMBLE !!!

October 26, 2024

VAN HAI SET TO BE A BIG "HIT" IN SOUTH KOREA

Nguyễn Văn Hải, one of Vietnam's best known boxers, returns to the ring on December 15 in an 8-round showdown in South Korea.

And despite two losses in 2024, Hải has shown menacing form, foreshadowing a major victory at the Jeju Island event.

Following consecutive WBO and WBC title bid setbacks against undefeated, world-rated opponents, the man dubbed the "Hanoi Hitman" is poised for a big bounce back win.

His upcoming challenge comes against a yet-to-be-named South Korean opponent, a former national titleholder that is looking for a big scalp to re establish his rankings.

Stay tuned for more updates on this highly anticipated matchup set for Jeju Island South Korea on December 15th.

Details coming soon!

October 15, 2024

JBC SUSPENDS JOHN RIEL CASIMERO

OUCH !!!!!!!

Due to failing to make weight, the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) has suspended John Riel Casimero for one year. This suspension follows Casimero’s inability to meet the weight requirements for his non-title fight against Saul Sanchez, scheduled for October 13, 2024, in Yokohama, Japan.

Casimero’s past issues with weight management have now led to serious consequences that could affect his future plans, including a highly anticipated potential matchup against Naoya Inoue.

October 11, 2024

THAT'S DEADLY !! DANA COOLWELL

Aussie star Dana Coolwell never officially fought on a VSP show, but we got him a gig in Dubai, and had a couple of failed attempts to get him to Vietnam. We also got him Aussie fights with a couple of good VSP boys Lorenz Ladrada and Fernando Tagpuno.

Now Dana has a big fight coming up in the States against one of their rising stars :

Some big stories in Aussie boxing coming up, and now you can add this one to the impressive list :

DEADLY DANA COOLWELL will be fighting in front of 80,000 people next month on the Mike Tyson undercard at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas Texas !!

Dana takes on much hyped American Bruce Carrington - an unbeaten 13-0 top ten Featherweight.

The guy is real slick - but he ain't DEADLY !!

Go Dana !!

ABC News ran a great story on this indigenous prodigy :

They say everything is bigger in Texas and that is true for boxer Dana Coolwell.