DAVAO DEL NORTE’S CHARLY SUAREZ WINS IN THE 2009 MILAN AIBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
As the five-man Philippine Team contingent faces the toughest challenge in the on-going 2009 AIBA World Championships in Milan, Italy, a Davao del Norte amateur pugilist surely made a mark in this prestigious event.
Charly Suarez, easily Mindanao’s most promising amateur boxing standout to date who started his early amateur days as a member of the nationally-acclaimed Tonyboy Floirendo-fathered Barangay Una Boxing Team before joining the Philippine Team training pool, played with wit and grit as he overwhelmed Julian Stan of Romania with a score of 18-8. His next fight will be against the Korean Min Jae Joo ranked no.55 in the world ratings. Suarez, now a Philippine Army campaigner in the featherweight division (55-57 kgs.) is one of the five amateur boxers to represent the country in this tourney which features top caliber fighters from around the globe. Other team members include 2008 Moscow World Championships Gold Medalist Harry Tañamor, 2006 Doha Asian Games Gold Medalist Joan Tipon, Genebert Basadre, and Joegin Ladon.
Though still young at 23, Charly Suarez already participated in numerous international tournaments such as the 2009 Chicago World Championships, 2006 Thailand King’s Cup, among others and has recently finished his training with other RP bets in Cuba along with Rey Saludar, also a former Barangay Una Boxing Team stalwart.
Cong. Anton Lagdameo of the 2nd District of Davao del Norte who continues to support the grassroots program of the Barangay Una Boxing Team, is very much pleased with the results saying ”Though the win of Suarez is still in the preliminary stages, his triumph is well-meant as it signifies also the success of our Barangayanihan Sports Development Program particularly in amateur boxing at the grassroot-level and its contribution to the nation’s training pool”. Lagdameo hoped that Suarez along with the other competing RP Team fighters will eventually have a breakthrough campaign and haul back a gold medal to the country.
