FILIPINO Charly Suarez stopped Australia’s Paul Fleming by technical knockout in the dying seconds of the 12th and final round to capture three international super-featherweight boxing title belts on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at Kevin Betts Stadium, Mount Druitt in Sydney’s western Suburbs.
By MARILIE BOMEDIANO
Suarez bounced back from a knockdown early in the match and was behind of points when he exploded with a flurry of heavy lefts and rights to Fleming’s head and body in a desperate bid to put the lights out of the Australian.
Fleming dropped in a heap but bravely got up on wobbly legs and visibly dazed.
Sensing he had his prey beaten, Suarez swarmed into Fleming like a lion for the kill.
At 1min 58sec into brutal scenario, referee Pat O’Connor stepped in to save the defenceless Australian from further attack, crowning the Filipino the IBF Intercontinental, WBC Asian, and WBA Oceania boxing titles.
Victory cheers for Suarez rang loud in the stadium, located in Sydney suburb with the largest population of Filipino-Australians.
To this Filipino press reporter, Suarez said of his preparation for the fight of his life: “Tiwala ako na kaya kong manalo sa awa at biyaya ng Ating Panginoon.
Una dahil maganda ang preparation namin ng team, higit sa lahat, maraming nagdarasal sa laban ko contra Paul Fleming.”
(I had faith that I could win by the will and the blessing of Our Lord, firstly because of the proper training and preparation of our team; and especially because many were praying for me in this fight against Paul Fleming.)
Rappler sports reporter Ryan Songalia wrote: All three judges from Australia had the local fighter Fleming up big – the scores at the time of stoppage were 106-103, 107-102 and 108-101 – but the Filipino contender rendered the cards moot when he finished the fight himself.
It was interesting to note that Fleming and Suares were Olympians: Fleming a member of Australia’s Olympic boxing team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in China, and Suarez a member of the Philippine Olympic boxing team at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Brazil.
Both Fleming and Suarez came to the fight undefeated: Fleming with a record of 28 wins (18 by KO),1 draw; Suarez with 14 wins (9 by KO).
Fleming and Suarez are both aged 34 years. Fleming stands at 5ft 9in, Suarez at 5ft 5.5in.
Fleming fights southpaw, Suarez fights orthodox.
Suarez is based in Manila, but was born and raising in Sa Isidro, Davao del Norte in Mindanao.
Fleming is an Indigenous Australian from Blacktown NSW.
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PICTURE:
Referee Pat O’Connor, right, steps in to stop Charly Suarez’s attack on Paul Fleming.
Photo by: MARILIE BOMEDIANO
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