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A former Olympian who totes a 17-0 record, Charly Suarez is a win away from getting a crack at the WBO super featherweight crown

MANILA, Philippines – The quest to become the newest Filipino boxing world champion continues for Charly Suarez as he battles American Andres Cortes in a 10-round title eliminator in Glendale, Arizona, on September 20.

A former Olympian who totes a 17-0 record, Suarez is a win away from getting a crack at the World Boxing Organization (WBO) super featherweight crown.

It will be a clash between unbeaten boxers as Cortes boasts of a 22-0 card, with 12 of his victories coming via stoppage.

Cortes, 27, is coming off a unanimous decision over compatriot Abraham Nova in June.

Meanwhile, Suarez — who is nearly a decade older at 36 years old — last fought in April, when he beat American Luis Coria in Corpus Christi, Texas, via unanimous decision for his fourth straight triumph on foreign soil.

Although Father Time is creeping up on him, Suarez hopes to accomplish his dream of becoming a world champion after an accomplished amateur career that saw him capture three gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games.

The pride of Davao del Norte also won a silver medal in the Asian Games and represented the country in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Fighting under Top Rank Promotions, Suarez flew to Las Vegas on September 1 for the final phase of his fight preparations.

Suarez, who turned professional in 2019, is ranked No. 3 by the WBO, one spot behind Cortes. – Rappler.com

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