Suarez stuns world No. 4 in Mumbai boxing series

MANILA, Philippines - Charly Suarez dominated world No. 4 Semen Gribachev of Azerbaijan and pounded out a 3-0 victory in a big upset to barge into the semifinal round of the World Series of Boxing Friday in Mumbai, India.

The Davao power-puncher surprised the feisty Gribachev with lightning quick jabs and precise combinations that hurt his foe. The 27-year-old Azeri veteran, however, tried to come back in the last round but Suarez wisely eluded the attacks to fashion out the win.

Suarez, 23, was recruited by the Mumbai Fighters of India, one of 12 international franchises in the league organized by the International Boxing Association (AIBA), the international federation for amateur boxing. The unique format features boxers fighting without the usual head guards and vests characteristic of Olympic-style boxing. Judging is by a 3-man panel, similar to professional boxing and fights go through five rounds instead of the usual three.

Suarez’s victory helped propel his team to a hard-fought 3-2 win over the previously unbeaten Baku Fires. It also improved the Indian team’s standing in Group A.

Nitin Beri, vice-president of the Mumbai Fighters, excitedly relayed the good news of Suarez’s victory via overseas call to Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines executive director Ed Picson, past midnight Manila time, Friday.

Beri informed Picson that he was already drafting a fresh contract for Charly’s inclusion in the Mumbai Fighters’ line-up next year.

The news came on the eve of a big night for the ABAP, the national sports association for boxing, which received major accolades in the awards ceremonies held last night by the Philippine Sportswriters Association at the Manila Hotel.

They bagged the NSA of the Year Award (with the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines), Executive of the Year for ABAP president Ricky Vargas and the Tony Siddayao Award for Eumir Marcial who won the World Junior Boxing Championships in August last year, among others.

Vargas said this is “icing on the cake for ABAP. We are always been reminded by our chairman Manny V. Pangilinan that we can only do great things if we have a plan and a program to execute it. Charly and the rest of our boxers are reaping the rewards of being under that program. We foresee better things ahead for our team.”

Suarez will vie for the lone Olympic slot available for Asia in the lightweight 60 Kg weight category in the Asian Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Astana, Kazakhstan on April 4-13.