INCHEON Asian Games 2014 silver medalist Charly Coronel Suarez of the Philippines scored a technical knockout victory over Magomedrashid Dzhabrailov of Russia only 10 seconds left in the fifth round of their Cycle 1 Round 1 Aiba Pro Boxing lightweight division clash held Saturday evening in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The 26-year-old Suarez, who hails from Sawata in Davao del Norte, didn't expect to win the fight in such fashion, saying in the vernacular, "Naka-timing rajud (It was just good timing)."
On his Facebook status early Monday morning, Suarez thanked God, his family, Abap (Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines) family, churchmates, coaches Nolito Velasco and Romeo Brin, other national coaches and boxers, his sparring partners, and FB friends. "Sa lahat ng mga nagdasal at support niyong lahat sa akin, maraming salamat!"
He was overflowing with thankfulness when interviewed by this writer via Facebook chat.
"Nagpapasalamat sa ating Panginoon," Suarez replied when asked about how he feels with his triumph.
It was the first encounter of Suarez and 21-year-old Dzhabrailov, a 2012 Aiba Youth World Boxing Championships gold medalist who won the first two rounds of the bout. But after Suarez hit the Russian with a powerful body shot, the latter failed to recover, thus, the fifth-round stoppage by lady referee Hyeok Lee.
Suarez said he will need to win another fight so he will advance to the finals. But Italy's Domenico Valentino whom he defeated last October 24 will try to avenge himself when they face-off anew on July 17 in the 60 kilogram category.
Aiba Pro 2009 gold medalist Valentino, 31, meanwhile, eked out a unanimous decision victory (3-0) over Artur Bril of Germany. Chinese judge Dexin Wang scored the match 79-72 while Argentina's Gerardo Mariano Poggi had it 78-74 and Hungary's Roland Juhasz tallied 79-72.
Suarez and coaches Velasco and Brin are set to arrive in Manila at 3 p.m. today, June 2. He will then resume training for his next fight.
He and Myanmar Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Mark Anthony Barriga are not joining the Singapore-bound Team Philippines for the 28th SEA Games slated June 5 to 16.
