Suarez makes quick work of Avila, stays on Navarrete's rearview mirror

MANILA, Philippines -- Charly Suarez went into his super featherweight duel with Mexican Manuel Avila wanting to send a message to reigning WBO titlist Emanuel Navarrete — he is coming for the Mexican champion.

It was crystal clear in the 37-year-old Filipino’s first-round demolition of Avila Sunday that rang loud and deafening at the National Orange Show Event Center in San Bernardino, California.

It didn’t take Suarez that much time in finishing off the 34-year-old Avila, whom the former drilled with a jarring right straight to the face that sent the latter on his right knee.

Avila tried to get up but his wobbling knees betrayed him, forcing the referee Ray Corona to stop the fight with 29 seconds left in the opening round.

That sealed Olympian pug from San Isidro, Davao del Norte the WBO International crown, his unblemished slate of 19 wins, including 13 via knockouts and, most importantly, preserved his status as the mandatory challenger to the one foe Suarez has sought the most — Navarrete.

Suarez’s camp felt they were robbed in that controversial duel with Navarrete in May last year in San Diego, California, wherein the ringside physician stopped the bout due to a deep cut over the latter’s left eye that was officially initially perceived as caused by an accidental head butt.

That resulted in an eight-round technical unanimous decision triumph for Navarrete, which was eventually declared a no-contest after WBO declared it was caused by a clean punch and ordered a rematch.

Navarrete wisely opted to elude Suarez and instead fought a unification bout versus then IBF king Eduardo Nunez, whom the former beat with an 11th round technical knockout victory in Glendale, Arizona last February.

For Suarez, this was his first match since that fateful fight with Navarrete and he made sure not to waste time in getting the win.