MANILA, Philippines – Charly Suarez stopped Jorge Castaneda in the third round to clinch the World Boxing Organization (WBO) international junior lightweight crown at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona on Friday, September 20 (Saturday, September 21, Philippine time).
Having found his range, Suarez unloaded a solid left hook to send the towering Castaneda down for the first time midway through the round. The American got up but got tagged by a lead right and another crackling left hook that forced the referee to halt the supposed 10-rounder.
The 36-year-old Suarez extended his perfect run to 18 bouts with 10 knockouts and proved his readiness to challenge for the regular world title.
Suarez, a Rio de Janeiro Olympian and three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, was supposed to clash with Andres Cortes in a title eliminator, but the American backed out due to an injury and was replaced by Castaneda.
Enjoying a 4-inch height advantage over the 5-foot-6 Suarez, the 27-year-old Castaneda was moving in when the pride of Davao del Norte clipped him.
Castaneda fell to 17-4 with 13 knockouts.
CHARLY SUAREZ JUST DID THAT 🍿#MunguiaBazinyan | @TwistedTea pic.twitter.com/1MMp0HknUP
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) September 21, 2024
According to Delfin Boholstz, a former national team mainstay and Suarez’s trainer, Top Rank promised a world title eliminator for his ward early next year.
Boholstz lauded businessman and seasoned politician Chavit Singson for his all-out support to Suarez and him, taking care of all their needs and expenses without asking for anything in return.
Suarez sent him straight to the camera 🥶 pic.twitter.com/I9jKkedZrW
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) September 21, 2024
– Rappler.com