Former Olympian Charly Suarez, who is now a professional boxer, expressed his desire to represent the Philippines in the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) that the country is hosting on November 31 to December 11.
“I want to represent the Philippines. That is what I told ABAP (Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines) when they asked while I was training if I want to compete in the SEAG,” Suarez, 31, told The Manila Times in Filipino on Wednesday.
I want to win a gold for our country in the SEAG,” added Suarez, who last won a gold medal in the biennial meet in 2013, in Myanmar when he competed in the 60-kilogram event.
Suarez scored a first round knockout win over compatriot Virgil Puton last Saturday in one of the undercards of the Johnriel Casimero vs Cesar Ramirez bout for the WBO interim bantamweight crown at the San Andres Sports Complex.
He now holds a 3-0 win-loss record, all by knockout, since turning professional last January 16.
ABAP Executive Director Ed Picson said that an Amateur International Boxing Association ruling that took effect in 2016 allows professional boxers to compete in Olympic-sanctioned competitions among them the SEAG and the Olympics.
“I asked him (Suarez) if he is willing to compete and he said yes. We will send him to Canada to test him,” Picson told The Manila Times in separate interview referring to the United Boxing Classic on September 15 in Canada.