CHARLY SUAREZ scored a thunderous first-round technical knockout win against American Manuel Avila to claim the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) international super featherweight belt on Sunday.
Suarez hardly sweat in beating the American at the National Orange Show Event Center in San Bernardino, California.
He delivered a crisp right up followed by a devastating left hook right at Avila’s temple.
The American wobbled on his legs before going down on his knees and referee Ray Corona halted the fight at the 2:32 mark of the opening round.
‘Just part of the strategy. I was able to hit him directly on the right the temple and he went down,’ Suarez told BusinessMirror on Sunday via a video call.
The referee, Suarez said, made a good decision stopping the fight to prevent further damage to Avila.
‘He [Avila] stopped and knelt for a few seconds after I hit him. The referee saw that he was no longer fit to fight,’ Suarez said. ‘Praise God, I was okay and ready for the next one.’
‘I’m praying that he’s not in danger,’ added the Rio de Janeiro Olympian.
Suarez, who turns 38 next month, remained undefeated in 19 fights with 11 knockouts, while the 34-year-old Avila dropped to 26-3-1 with nine knockouts.
It was Suarez’s first fight since his controversial duel with unified WBO and International Boxing Federation (IBF) super featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete of Mexico in May 2025 that was ruled no contest last July 2025 after the referee’s call was reversed by the boxing governing body.
The Davao del Norte warrior, a silver medalist in the Incheon 2014 Asian Games and two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalists, said he’s ready for a rematch with Navarrete which the WBO set later this year.
Suarez is trained and managed by Delfin Boholst under promoter Sampson.
‘I’ll continute to train here in the US so I can prepare very well against Navarrete,’ Suarez said.