Amid drama and controversy, Vaquero Navarrete retains world title

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Sunday, May 11, 2025, p. a27

Amid blood, drama, and controversy, Mexican Emanuel Vaquero Navarrete retained the WBO super featherweight title. With a nasty eyebrow cut, the Mexican won by unanimous decision over undefeated Filipino Charly Suárez in a fight that was stopped by the attending physician at the start of the eighth round. Although Navarrete had dominated the bout at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, it was in the sixth round that he was accidentally headbutted by Suárez, causing a deep cut above his left eyebrow. The Mexican warrior spirit we carry within us came out now. "From the moment I felt the impact, I knew it was a headbutt; then I saw it split my eyebrow. But I felt good, strong ," said Navarrete, who has a record of 40 wins, two losses, and one draw. Charly Suárez, in turn, suffered his first defeat after 19 fights.