Navarrete vs. Suarez Ruled A No-Contest; WBO Orders A Rematch

The California State Athletic Commission has voted unanimously to overturn Emanuel Navarrete’s technical decision win over Charly Suarez, ruling the bout into a no contest.

Suarez appealed the decision after the fight was stopped in the eighth round after Navarrete suffered a cut above his left eye. The Referee, Edward Collantes, attributed the injury to an accidental headbutt, sending the bout to the scorecards as Navarrete won: 78-75, 77-76, and 77-76.

However, video footage revealed Suarez’s left hand landing a punch just before the head clash. While the commission could not definitively prove the cut was caused solely by a punch, they said there was enough doubt to overturn the contest. The WBO has now ordered an immediate rematch, giving Suarez the chance to win that WBO Junior Lightweight Belt. 

“[It was] the only fair thing to do. Suarez punched (Navarrete) directly where he got cut, but I’m always against changing a loss to a win,” Dr. AnnMaria De Mars (commissioner)