Many-time national team standout Charly Suarez barged into the latest rankings released by the Mexico City-based World Boxing Council.
Campaigning as a super-featherweight (130 lbs), Suarez was listed as No. 15 in the division being ruled by American O’Shaquie Foster. Ten rungs above Suarez, is former champion Mark Magsayo at No. 5.
Holding a 15-0 win-loss record with nine knockouts, Suarez is a three-time Southeast Asian Games champion and silver medalist during the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
With the help of Ilocos political kingpin and businessman Luis “Chavit” Singson, Suarez forged a promotional pact with Top Rank, which will be staging his US debut late next month in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Suarez’s rise in the ratings stemmed from his dramatic one-punch knockout of Australian Paul Fleming last March in Australia.
Trained by fellow former national team mainstay Delfin Boholst, Suarez fought extensively as an amateur. He was a member of the Philippine delegation to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Meanwhile, fifteen other Filipinos also made the WBC list.
Three-division champion John Riel Casimero is rated No. 6 in the super-bantam class.
Nonito Donaire, who will vie for the vacant bantam throne on 29 July in Las Vegas, remains listed on top of the 118-lb category.
Vincent Astrolabio is at No. 5 and will secure a title try at the winner of the Donaire vs Alejandro Santiago duel if he wins his title elimination bout in Thailand next month.
