ALTHOUGH he is now pursuing his dreams as a pro boxer, WBA Asia super featherweight champion Charly Suarez is still.ready to represent the country anytime, anywhere.

In fact, Suarez and his coach-friend Delfin Boholst are just waiting for the opportunity — and a call from the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (ABAP) — to represent the country again in international competitions.

“Kahit saan, anumang oras, handa naman ako mag-represent sa bansa natin uli sa mga boxing competitions,” said Suarez during the 37th “Sports on Air” vodcast last Thursday, Sept. 15.

Suarez, who represented the country in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, vowed to bring the same energy to the boxing ring whether it is professional or amateur fights.

“Tuloy-tuloy naman ang training ko under coach Delfin para kapag may dumating na pagkakataon na lumaban sa WBA Asia man or sa SEA Games or sa iba pang mga international competitions, nakahanda ako,” Suarez told the weekly online sports program shown on both Facebook and YouTube.

First on Suarez’s busy calendar for the year is the UKC Tiger Battlefield, a blockbuster promotion by the VSP Boxing and Elorde TV at the Elorde Sports Complex in Sucat, Parañaque on Oct. 23.

Suarez, nicknamed “King’s Warrior” in the international boxing scene, will make another title defense of his WBA Asia super feathwerwight title against national champion Carlo Magali.

The 34-year-old Filipino champion from San Isidro, Daval del Norte, is looking to remain unbeaten in 13 fights since turning pro in January, 2019.

His coach, Boholst, said Suarez needs to continue his rise in the crowded super featherweight division and enter the top 10 to gain a crack at the title of any of the four wrold governing boxing bodies.

“He (Suarez) is still not in the top 10, but we expect to get a shot at a world title if he can maintain his impressive form,”said Boholst, a close friend and confidant of Suarez.

Boholst cited the Rio Olympian’s experience in the intenational stage as a long-time national team member as a big factor in getting noticed.

“The comng fight against Magali is another good opportunity for Suarez to hone his skills. I know Magali is also a very good fighter. Madami na din siyang tinalong malalakas na boxers, so we don’t want to under-estimate him,” explained Boholst.

“Some boxing experts said Magali will be trying for a brawl and looking for a knockout. It will be a war at Elorde, pero lagi naman kami handa.”

Before turning pro, Suarez is one of the country’s leading prizefighters.

Among his achievements in the boxing ring were a silver medal as a lightweight in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea; three gold medals as a featherweight/lightweight in the Southeast Asian Games in 2009 Laos, 2011 Jakarta and 2019 Manila, and bronze in 2017 Kuala Lumpur, Suarez is also best remembered for representing the country in the 2016 Rio Olympics where he dropped a close 1-2 decision to British fighter Joseph Cordina in the preliminary stage of the men’s lightweight division.

As a pro, Suarez is just as impressive.

Suarez, who is currently ranked No. 36 in the tough super featherweight category of the World Boxing Council (WBC), won all his 12 fights.

That included his first three fights for 2022 — a technical knockout victory over TomJune Mangubat to win the vacant WBA Asia belt in March, a unanimous decision win over Junny Salogaol in a tune-up in June and a unanimous decision win over Mark John Yap in his first WBA Asia title defense on Aug. 7.

His next opponent, Magali, is no pushover.

Magali, who was supposed to fight Ayanda Nkosi for the World Boxing Federation (WBF) lightweight title in South Africa last Aug. 21, boasts of an impressive ring record of 25-13-3.

Magali, also known as the “Ferocious”, won by split decision over Al Toyogon to capture the vacant Asian Boxing Federation super featherweight crown and Games and Amusements Board super featherweight belt at the Manila Arena last Dec, 21, 2019.

He also rose to prominence when he knocked out Davey Browne Jr. to win the International Boxing Federation (IBF) Pan Pacific super featherweight belt in Australia. last Sept. 11, 2015.