NEW RANK. Philippine Army chief, Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (right), pins the new rank on champion boxer Charly Suarez in a ceremony at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Friday (Jan. 13, 2023). Suarez was promoted to Private First Class for his achievements last year. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Army)
MANILA – Philippine Army boxer Charly Suarez was promoted to Private First Class for his achievements last year.
Army Commanding General, Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., pinned the new rank on Suarez in a ceremony held at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Jan. 13.
Suarez defended the World Boxing Association (WBA) Asia Super Featherweight title against compatriot Carlo Magali and won via unanimous decision in the “Ultimate Knockout Challenge: Battlefield” at the Elorde Sports Complex in Paranaque City on Oct. 23.
He defeated Defry Palulu of Indonesia via technical knockout (TKO) to claim the International Boxing Federation (IBF) Asia Junior Lightweight crown at the Grand Ho Tram Hotel in Vietnam on Dec. 10.
Suarez, named WBA Boxer of the Month in March 2022, has a record of 14-0, including seven knockouts.
As an amateur, he won three golds -- two in lightweight (2011 Jakarta, 2019 Manila) and one in featherweight (2009 Laos) -- and one bronze (2017 Kuala Lumpur) at the Southeast Asian Games.
Suarez, who competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil, also bagged the silver medal at the 2010 Tammer Tournament in Finland (lightweight), 2011 President's Cup in Indonesia (lightweight) and, 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, and President's Cup in Kazakhstan (lightweight). (PNA)
