The Philippine Army conferred a meritorious one-rank higher promotion to champion boxer Private first class Charly Suarez in recognition of his exemplary boxing feats in a ceremony at the Headquarters Philippine Army, Fort Bonifacio, Metro Manila on January 13, 2023.
Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner, Jr., pinned the new rank on Pfc Suarez who was recognized for his exemplary performance in the October 2022 “Ultimate Knockout Challenge: Battlefield” WBA Asia Super Featherweight Title Match in Paranaque City and the December 2022 IBF Asia Junior Lightweight Title Bout in Vietnam.
Pfc Suarez, who is eyeing a world boxing championship belt, has an unblemished professional boxing record of 14-0, including seven knockouts.
The champion Army boxer competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil and won gold medals in various boxing categories in the 2009, 2011, 2019, and 2022 editions of the Southeast Asian Games. He was recognized by WBA Asia as its Boxer of the Month for March 2022.
Photos by Pfc Rodgen Quirante, Philippine Army