A No-Contest Call That’s Stirring Up Controversy
On June 3, 2025, the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) officially overturned Emanuel Navarrete’s technical decision win over Charly Suarez, changing the result to a no-contest. The decision comes nearly three weeks after the bout, which was stopped in round eight due to a deep cut over Suarez’s right eye — originally ruled by the referee as caused by an accidental clash of heads.
After a full review of the footage, the CSAC determined the cut was caused by a punch — and not a head clash — which means the result should never have gone to the scorecards in the first place. But this opens up a much bigger can of worms than just one fight.
I’ve Watched It Three Times — Where’s the Controversy?
I’ve now watched this fight three times, and if I’m being honest, I still don’t see this as the great boxing scandal some are making it out to be.
Yes, the footage appears to show the cut was caused by a punch, not a headbutt. But the referee made a call based on what he saw live, in real time. He doesn’t have the luxury of slo-mo, different camera angles or replays. Since when did we start using VAR in boxing?
It’s not about whether the CSAC got it technically right — they probably did. But whether that means it was right to overrule the ref weeks later is another debate entirely.
Let’s Talk About Those Scorecards
Here’s another point being overlooked: the judges scored the fight.
After the stoppage in round eight, the bout went to the scorecards under the rules for an accidental clash of heads. Navarrete was awarded a technical decision victory based on the judges’ scores at the time of the stoppage. So here’s the question — if the referee was wrong, does that also mean the judges were wrong too?
Are we now suggesting every official on the night got it wrong? Because if so, we’re basically saying in hindsight, none of the ringside crew were competent — and that’s a slippery slope.
If We Keep Looking for Controversy, We’ll Always Find It
This isn’t just about Navarrete vs Suarez. This is about setting a precedent that could do real damage to boxing’s credibility.
Imagine if football worked like this. A team scores in the 90th minute, VAR confirms it, the match ends, the players celebrate. Then three weeks later, the league says, “Actually, VAR got it wrong.” They declare the match a draw or order a replay. Fans would lose their minds.
Boxing doesn’t have a VAR system. What it does have is referees, judges, and commissions — and once their calls start being undone days or weeks after the fact, it makes the sport look amateurish and uncertain. We already know boxing gets mocked for some of its decisions. This kind of backpedalling only feeds that narrative.
Was the Rematch Inevitable Anyway?
Let’s be honest — a rematch was likely happening either way. Nobody likes a fight ending because of a cut, especially in a bout that was heating up.
Look at Sam Eggington’s most recent outing. That fight ended early due to a cut and controversy quickly followed, with a rematch ordered almost immediately. Read our full take on that here.
So the rematch between Navarrete and Suarez was probably going to happen, whether the result stood or not. Which makes this whole reversal feel like theatre for the sake of appearances.
The Ref Didn’t Fail – The System Did
This isn’t about one bad call. It’s about what kind of sport boxing wants to be. Referees are there to make real-time decisions. Are we now saying that unless they’re perfect, the result doesn’t count?
What about the fighters? They train for months, take risks, and step into the ring knowing the outcome is in the hands of officials. They don’t expect to have that result reversed weeks later by a panel with pause buttons and coffee breaks.
Final Verdict: Right Result, Wrong Message
So, was the Navarrete Suarez no-contest the correct technical decision? Arguably, yes. But was it the right move for boxing as a whole? That’s where things get murky.
This wasn’t a case of cheating or corruption. It was a referee doing his job in the moment. And to retroactively erase that based on slow-motion footage and pressure from fans sets a precedent that could backfire.
What happens next time a promoter doesn’t like a result? Do we just keep going until we find a frame to support their case?
What Do You Think?
Was the Navarrete Suarez no-contest fair? Or does it mark the start of a dangerous shift in how boxing handles decisions?
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