Navarrete beats Suarez on technical decision to keep title

LOS ANGELES: Mexico´s Emanuel Navarrete kept his World Boxing Organization super-featherweight world title on Saturday with a seven-round technical decision over previously unbeaten Filipino fighter Charly Suarez in San Diego.

The fight was halted after seven rounds with Navarrete bleeding from a cut over his left eye caused by an accidental clash of heads in the sixth round. The outcome was then decided by the scorecards at the time of the stoppage with all three having Navarrete ahead -- 77-76, 77-76 and 78-75.

The 30-year-old Mexican improved to 40-2 with one draw as he defended his crown for the fourth time. Navarrete had missed the 130-pound weight limit in his first try at the scales but was inside the limit two hours later at a final weigh-in.

Suarez, seeking his first world title at the age of 36, fell to 18-1. Suarez was stunned by an accidental clash of heads late in round four. Another clash of heads in the sixth opened a deep gash above Navarrete´s left eye, gushing blood impacting his vision and causing the early stoppage in the bout scheduled for 12 rounds.