WBO #1 junior lightweight Charly Suarez returned home to a hero’s welcome this week. Suarez (19-0, 11 KOs), from Manila, Philippines, is coming off a first-round knockout over Manuel Avila on ProBoxTV in July. The uncrowned champion of the division, Suarez is best known for his controversial no-contest fight against WBO and IBF World Junior Lightweight Champion Navarrete, where the champion suffered a cut over his left eye in round six from what the referee ruled was an accidental clash of heads. The cut was deemed severe enough to stop the fight and go to the scorecards, where the champion Navarette was initially awarded a technical decision. However, replay footage post-fight eventually proved that the cut had been caused by a legal punch from Suarez and that he should have been awarded the TKO victory. The California State Athletic Commission subsequently overturned Navarrete’s win and changed the result to a no-contest. The 38-year-old now waits patiently for the October 24 unification fight between Navarrete and WBC champion O’Shaquie Foster, as he has been promised a shot at the winner within 180 days. The wait has given Suarez time to return home, where he is being hailed as a hero to his country by the people and his comrades in the Phillipine army in which he proudly serves.@WorldBoxingOrg @OlivieriLaw