Army champion boxer Pvt. Charly Suarez clinched the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) Asia Junior Lightweight belt after beating his Indonesian opponent Defry Palulu via technical knockout (TKO) at the Grand Ho Tram Hotel in Vietnam on December 10, 2022.
Pvt. Suarez blasted Palulu with powerful punches that left the Indonesian boxer unable to continue to the third round due to facial injuries. Pvt. Suarez's victory over Palulu marks the second Asian title he earned this year. He won the World Boxing Association (WBA) Asia Super Featherweight belt in March 2022 and clinched the Philippine Super Featherweight belt after defeating compatriot Carlo Magali via unanimous decision in October 2022.
In a post-match interview, Pvt. Suarez said his latest victory will serve as a stepping stone for his bid for a world boxing championship belt. Pvt. Suarez’s professional boxing record remained unblemished as he hiked his tally to 14-0, including seven knockouts.
Pvt. Suarez—who competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil and won gold medals in various boxing categories in 2009, 2011, 2019, and 2022 editions of the Southeast Asian Games—was recognized by WBA Asia as its Boxer of the Month for March 2022. He is coached by Army reservist 1st Lt. Delfin Boholst.
Photos from the Special Service Center, Installation Management Command, Philippine Army