BoxRec

Emanuel Navarrete-Eduardo Nunez unification needs Charly Suarez’s clearance

Emanuel Navarrete’s effort to meet Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez in a unification bout will first require a negotiation with Navarrete’s mandatory contender, Charly Suarez, officials connected to the situation told Boxing Scene on Monday.

Navarrete, 39-2-1 (32 KOs), controversially retained his WBO junior lightweight belt in his May 10 bout in San Diego with the Philippines’ Suarez, 18-0 (10 KOs). The fight initially went to the scorecards because of a bad cut over Navarrete’s left eye, which the referee ruled came from a clash of heads. The scores were 78-75 and 77-76 (twice). Suarez’s team appealed, and the California State Athletic Commission acknowledged that replays showed the cut was caused by a Suarez punch, not a headbutt. But the commission converted the result to a no contest, rather than a Suarez victory.

The WBO then ruled Navarrete should negotiate with Suarez for a rematch to occur next at an appropriate time following Navarrete’s cut healing.

Boxing Scene has learned that since Navarrete appeared in the ring to congratulate Mexican countryman Nunez after an 6 IBF title defense over Christopher Diaz on September 6, officials from his team, promoter Top Rank and Nunez promoter Matchroom Boxing have contacted the WBO to express interest in a unification bout.

The parties learned that Suarez holds the key.

Navarrete must either reach a financial step-aside deal with Suarez to allow the Nunez fight to occur next, or he must strike an agreement for future considerations connected to a future bout, BS has learned.

Navarrete and Nunez, 29-1 (27 KOs), would likely stand as a thunderous match between fighters with a combined 59 knockouts.

One official familiar with tentative plans for the bout said financial negotiations still need to take place and that the fight seems destined to be a Matchroom-promoted show on DAZN in early 2026, given Top Rank’s absence of a television deal.

The official said a likely destination for the bout is the greater Phoenix area, where Navarrete defeated former two-division titleholder Oscar Valdez in 2024 (by knockout) and 2023 (unanimous decision) while also defeating Liam Wilson there earlier in 2023.

Has Navarrete been the busiest Champion in the last decade or so?

Since beating Dogboe he's been out 2, 3 or 4 times a year, I think.

I reckon that's starting to take its toll on his body. He might still have a great performance or two in him but I reckon he gets out-hustled by Nunez over the 2nd half of the fight.

I want the winner to fight Hernandez. Get some great Mexican rivalries going on again. Even Espinoza can move up & get involved.

Let's have the Barrera, Morales, Marquez, Vazquez days back.

Navarrete -- another Mexican with the judges and refs in his pocket. Just look at the robbery against Suarez. Suarez clearly opened him up with a punch that even Stevie Wonder could see, Nav retires... so the crooked ref decides it was an accidental clash of heads.

SOURCES: NAVARRETE, NUNEZ FINALIZING DEAL FOR 130-POUND UNIFICATION

Mexicans Emanuel Navarrete and Eduardo "Sugar" Nunez are in the process of finalizing a deal for a 130-pound title unification fight early next year in the U.S., sources told The Ring.

Jan. 24 in Phoenix is one possibility being explored for a Matchroom Boxing headliner on DAZN, sources said.

Navarrete’s promoter, Top Rank, will first finalize a step-aside deal for mandatory challenger Charly Suarez, per sources. Suarez challenged Navarrete for his WBO junior lightweight title in May in San Diego, a fight that was ultimately ruled a no contest.

The bout was stopped in Round 8 after the doctor ruled Navarrate was unfit to continue due to a cut over his left eye. Navarrate won a technical decision, but it was later confirmed the cut was caused by a punch rather than a clash of heads, resulting in a no contest.

After the ruling, the WBO ordered an immediate rematch. But now, Suarez could wait for a shot at the winner of Navarrete-Nunez.

Navarrate is rated No. 2 by The Ring, while Nunez is No. 5. The fight shapes up as a sure-fire slugfest between Mexican action-fighters.

Nunez, 28, is coming off a grueling unanimous-decision win over Christopher Diaz in September in Mexico. Nunez floored Diaz twice in Round 7 of the thriller.

That was the first title defense for Nunez (30-1, 28 KOs).

Navarrete has previously won titles at 122 and 126 pounds.

WBO grants 15-day extension for Navarrete-Nunez talks before Suarez rematch ordered

Emanuel Navarrete is close enough to finalizing terms for a unification bout to where the WBO is willing to wait.

But not for very long.

Talks are ongoing in the tangled web for Navarrete to face countryman Eduardo Nunez in a WBO/IBF 130lbs unification bout, while he remains on the hook to honor a rematch with Charly Suarez. The matter was addressed on Thursday, at which point a 15-day extension was granted during the ratings portion of the WBO’s 38th annual convention in Bogota, Colombia.

“We are currently in negotiations for a unification bout with… Nunez and Matchroom [Boxing, Nunez’s co-promoter along with BXSTRS Promotions],” Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti informed the WBO officials. “We hoped to put that fight on in the very early part of 2026.

“In order to put that fight on, we have to satisfy [the rights of] Charly Suarez, for which we are in negotiations as well. They are going accordingly. Hopefully, within two weeks we can have a firmer plan.”

WBO officials unanimously voted to allow Top Rank, Matchroom and BXSTRS to continue talks, with a November 14 deadline set to reach a deal. The issue is not between the boxers, but more so providing a satisfactory step-aside package for the Philippines’ Suarez, 18-0 (10 KOs).

WBO president Gustavo Olivieri called for the status update when he addressed Navarrete-Suarez II, a fight which the sanctioning body was prepared to order in June.

Mexico’s Navarrete, 39-2-1 (32 KOs) was initially granted a technical decision win in their May 10 WBO 130lbs title fight, when a cut suffered by the three-division titlist forced the end of their ESPN headliner. Referee Edward Collantes ruled that the cut was caused by a headbutt, which prompted the decision to go to the scorecards where all three judges ahead Navarrete ahead (77-76, 77-76, 78-75).

Suarez’s team immediately appealed the verdict, as they correctly pointed out that a punch and not a clash of heads caused the wound. Had the right call been made in the ring, Suarez would have won the WBO 130lbs title via technical knockout and enjoyed greater leverage in a rematch.

A review of the fight conducted by the California State Athletic Commission ruled in favor of Suarez’s appeal, though the outcome was nullified and changed to a No-Contest. The WBO then stepped in to order an immediate rematch, though the process has been anything but that.

The call for the fight came at a time when Top Rank’s years-long TV rights deal with ESPN was coming to an end. Their seven-year partnership ceased following a July 26 show, leaving the company without a platform to stage any significant events.

Shortly thereafter, the respective teams for Navarrete and Nunez, 29-1 (27 KOs) huddled up to piece together an attractive all-Mexico, two-belt clash. While talks have been fruitful,

Nunez claimed the IBF title in a May 28 unanimous decision victory over Masanori Rikiishi on the road in Yokohama, Japan.

The bout marked the first time that the 28-year-old won a fight by any means other than a knockout. It was a feeling that immediately resurfaced in his first title defense, a 12-round, unanimous decision over Christopher Diaz on September 6 in his hometown of Los Mochis, Mexico.

Neither Navarrete nor Suarez have fought since their May 10 meeting.

Navarrete has previously held titles at 122lbs and 126lbs. He claimed the WBO junior lightweight title in February 2023 and has made four successful defenses. However, he has just two wins over that period. Both came against former two-division titlist Oscar Valdez, whom he outpointed in August 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. Their December 2024 rematch took place in nearby Phoenix, where Navarrete scored a brutally one-sided sixth round stoppage.

The other two defenses came in a November 2023 draw with Robson Conceicao and the abovementioned No-Contest with Suarez. Navarrete also dropped a split decision to then-unbeaten WBO 135lbs titlist Denys Berinchyk last May in a failed bid to become a four-division titlist.

NAVARRETE-NUNEZ FIGHT SET FOR MARCH 7 AT FOOTPRINT CENTER IN PHOENIX

Emanuel Navarrete and Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez now have a date and a site for their 130-pound title unification fight.

The Ring has learned that the Mexican champions will meet March 7 at Footprint Center in Phoenix. DAZN will stream their 12-round fight for Navarrete’s WBO and Nunez’s IBF junior lightweight crowns.

The Ring’s Mike Coppinger first reported Thursday that their promoters, Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc. (Navarrete) and Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing (Nunez), were in the process of finalizing a deal for them to fight early in 2026.

Navarrete needed Charley Suarez to accept a step-aside agreement before he could move forward with the Nunez bout because the WBO ordered them to partake in an immediate rematch. The California State Athletic Commission changed the controversial result of their May 10 fight from a unanimous technical-decision win for Navarrete to a no-contest June 2.

The CSAC determined that Suarez’s left hand opened a cut over Navarrete’s left eye early in the sixth round, not an accidental clash of heads. Had referee Edward Collantes or replay official Jack Reis ruled on fight night that Suarez’s punch opened Navarrete’s cut, Suarez would’ve won by technical knockout when a ringside physician wouldn’t allow Navarrete to continue early in the eighth round.

Navarrete instead initially won on points because he was ahead 78-75, 77-76 and 77-76 when Collantes halted the action on the advice of a CSAC-appointed doctor.

Like Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs, 1 NC), the Philippines’ Suarez (18-0, 10 KOs, 1 NC) is promoted by Top Rank, which helped them strike a deal that will allow Navarrete to fight Nunez (29-1, 27 KOs) next.

Eduardo Nunez-Emanuel Navarrete unification set for March 7

A terrific unification bout is in store for the first quarter of the new year.

Boxing Scene has confirmed that all terms were reached surrounding the long-discussed Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez-Emanuel Navarrete IBF/WBO 130lbs unification bout. The fan-friendly, all-Mexico matchup will headline a March 7 DAZN show from Mortgage Matchup Center, home to the NBA’s Phoenix Suns.

Ring Magazine was the first to report a deal had been finalized.

The update comes barely 24 hours after both sides were issued a 15-day deadline by the WBO to reach a deal, as reported Thursday by BS. An agreement between the involved parties wasn’t an issue so much as it was providing a compensatory package for the Philippines’ Charly Suarez, who was owed a mandatory rematch with Navarrete.

Top Rank promotes both Navarrete and Suarez, while Nunez is with Matchroom Boxing and BXSTRS. Both sides provided the WBO with an update on Thursday during the ratings portion of the sanctioning body’s 38th annual convention in Bogota, Colombia.

Navarrete, 39-2-1 (32 KOs), was initially awarded a technical decision win over Suarez, 18-0 (10 KOs), in their May 10 meeting in San Diego. The manner in which the fight ended sparked immediate debate, particularly from Suarez’s team, which argued that its fighter was cheated out of a stoppage win that would have earned him the WBO 130lbs title.

An appeal was filed by Suarez, who successfully had the verdict nullified upon review from the California State Athletic Commission during a June meeting. The bout was changed to a no-contest, a small victory for Suarez in the absence of the actual one he was denied.

An immediate rematch was ordered soon thereafter by the WBO, though weeks went by without any real update. It later surfaced that Navarrete turned his attention to Nunez, 29-1 (27 KOs), shortly after the latter’s decision win over Christopher Diaz on September 6 in his hometown of Los Mochis, Mexico.

The fight was able to finally move forward on Friday, once Suarez’s team was satisfied with the undisclosed terms of his step-aside deal.

Nunez lodged the first defense of the IBF title with that win, less than four months after he outpointed Masanori Rikiishi on May 28 in Yokohama, Japan.

A unification bout was long sought by Navarrete, a three-division titleholder who was denied the opportunity at 122lbs and 126lbs. His current reign seemed resigned to the same fate until Top Rank and Matchroom huddled to discuss the possibility of this fight.

Navarrete has tremendous ties to the greater Phoenix area.

His WBO 130lbs title win and first defense both took place at Desert Diamond Arena in nearby Glendale. He rose from the deck to stop Liam Wilson in the ninth-round of their February 2023 thriller and then outpointed former two-division champ Oscar Valdez over 12 rounds in August 2023.

Navarrete will now fight at this venue for the second time. His previous appearance came in his one-sided rematch with Valdez, whom he stopped in the sixth round of their December 7 clash at what was then known as Footprint Center.

The venue was renamed in early October to Mortgage Matchup Center. The partnership is through United Wholesale Mortgage, whose CEO Mat Ishiba is also the owner of the Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.

Navarrete will now have the privilege of headlining the building’s two most recent boxing events. The arena – which was known simply as PHX Arena in between sponsor name changes – did not host any boxing cards in 2025 after providing three the year prior. Six months before the Navarrete-Valdez rematch, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez became a two-time 115lbs champion with his off-the-canvas, seventh-round knockout of then lineal and WBC champ Juan Francisco Estrada last June 29.

Eduardo Nuñez-Emanuel Navarrete unification shifts date and venue

Eduardo “Sugar” Nuñez and Emanuel Navarrete will take their act to another part of town.

Boxing Scene has learned that the attractive IBF/WBO 130lbs unification bout remains on course for the greater Phoenix area, though no longer specifically in the city. Instead, the event will be bumped up one week to February 28 and shifted to Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

Nuñez-Navarrete was previously targeted for March 7 at Mortgage Market Center, home to the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. A definitive reason was not given for the change in scenery, other than the suggestion that plans for the bout – while agreed to in principle – was not yet finalized at the time.

The new location still provides a familiar backdrop for Navarrete, 39-2-1 (32 KOs). Nunez, 30-1 (28 KOs), fights in the greater Phoenix area for the first time.

Navarrete’s title reign began at Desert Diamond Arena, when he climbed off the canvas to knock out Australia’s Liam Wilson in the ninth round of their thriller in February 2023.

Navarrete returned to the venue for his first title defense – a competitive but clear 12-round, unanimous decision victory over the former two-division champ Oscar Valdez in August 2023.

The 30-year-old, three-division titlist from San Juan Zitlaltepec will enter his fifth title defense, though the balance of his reign has produced mixed results. His lone victory over his past four fights was a repeat conquering of Valdez, whom he battered and knocked out in the sixth round of their rematch in December 2024 at Mortgage Market Center, branded at the time as Footprint Center.

That win came seven months after his 12-round, split decision defeat by Denys Berinchyk for the vacant WBO 135lbs title in May 2024 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Six months prior to his failed bid to become a four-division titlist, Navarrete fought to a 12-round, majority draw with Robson Conceicao in Las Vegas.

In his most recent start Navarrete defended his WBO 130lbs title against the unbeaten Charly Suarez in what was eventually ruled a no contest. Their clash in May – also at Pechanga Arena – was originally ruled a technical decision win for Navarrete, due to an in-ring ruling that a cut he suffered was caused by a headbutt. He led on all three scorecards at the time of the stoppage.

The in-ring ruling and verdict sparked immediate debate. Chief among the outrage was, of course, Suarez’s team, who argued that their fighter was cheated out of a stoppage win that would have earned him the WBO 130lbs title.

An appeal was filed by Suarez, who successfully had the verdict nullified upon review from the California State Athletic Commission. An immediate rematch was ordered soon thereafter by the WBO, though weeks went by without any real update.

One emerged during the annual WBO convention in Bogota, Colombia. The ratings portion of the convention – which was held on October 31 – called for an update on Navarrete’s next title fight, as it was already long rumored that he would next face Nunez.

The two sides were given until November 15 to finalize terms before the WBO would intervene and put the Navarrete-Suarez rematch back in play. The only hold up was proper step-aside compensation for Suarez, a hurdle that was cleared soon thereafter.

Nuñez-Navarrete first gained traction when the two met in the ring after Nuñez’s decision win over Christopher Diaz in his hometown of Los Mochis, Mexico in September.

Nuñez lodged the first defense of the IBF title with that win, less than four months after he outpointed Masanori Rikiishi in May in Yokohama, Japan.

A unification bout was long-sought by Navarrete, a three-division titleholder who was denied the opportunity at 122lbs and 126lbs. His title reign seemed resigned to the same fate until Top Rank and Matchroom Boxing – Nuñez’s co-promoter along with BXSTRS – discussed the possibility of this fight.

The change in location is a win for the Desert Diamond Arena. This event will mark the first boxing card for the intimate venue since a Top Rank Boxing on ESPN show headlined by Tijuana’s Jaime Munguia in September 2024.

Top Rank and Matchroom have separately promoted the past six boxing events to take place at this venue and fittingly join forces to continue that streak with this highly anticipated clash.

MATCHROOM ANNOUNCES EARLY 2026 SCHEDULE: THREE WORLD TITLE FIGHTS ACROSS FOUR CARDS

Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn promised to begin the 2026 slate with a series of big fight nights and Friday night, they announced four shows across UK and U.S. markets in January and February.

Having won the purse bid for Andy Cruz's impending world lightweight title shot, it has now been confirmed the Cuban will face newly-minted champion Raymond Muratalla atop a January 24 show at Las Vegas' Fontainebleau. This is the same venue WBO flyweight beltholder Anthony Olascuaga defended his title as part of the Canelo-Crawford fight week festivities in September.

Bozy Ennis-trained contender Cruz (6-0, 3 KOs) will fancy his chances against Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs), especially given head coach Robert Garcia's admission the champion could be headed up to 140 pounds after this first championship defence.

The following weekend, January 31, another IBF title will be up for grabs when unbeaten junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev makes his long-awaited second defence against Sunderland's Josh Kelly at Newcastle's 11,000-seater Utilita Arena.

Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) will again venture into enemy territory as he ends a 15-month absence from competition, though that won't faze him as Kelly (17-1-1, 9 KOs) has flattered to deceive at times and will face a serious step-up in competition on his return to Matchroom.

Three weeks later sees a rematch more than two years in the making, when former world champions Leigh Wood (28-4, 17 KOs) and Josh Warrington (32-4-1, 8 KOs) collide at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena. Wood trailed 59-55 on two scorecards and 58-56 on the other, before landing a right hook and flurry Warrington didn't see coming to end proceedings in the seventh round.

They've both suffered humbling defeats and contemplated their future since then, but will run back one of 2023's most entertaining spectacles in Wood's hometown after his ninth-round stoppage defeat by Anthony Cacace in May.

The following weekend, Matchroom head stateside after brokering a deal to ensure the IBF/WBO title unification between Eduardo Nunez and Emanuel Navarrete is the next port of call for both men in Glendale, Arizona - home to one of the country's largest Mexican populations.

Nunez (29-1, 27 KOs) didn't have it all his own way but earned a gritty 12-round decision win over Christopher Diaz-Velez in his September homecoming, having overwhelmed Masanori Rikiishi for the 130-pound strap in Yokohama, Japan four months earlier.

Hearn bemoaned 'Sugar' feeling flat and drained from an emotional week, but he must be sharper next time out after facing off with Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) in the ring post-fight.

The 30-year-old was slated to be facing Philippines' challenger Charly Suarez in an immediate rematch of their May 10 matchup, which ended prematurely due to an accidental headbutt and was later ruled a no-contest after seven completed rounds.

Instead, fans will be treated to an explosive all-Mexican showdown in a weight division needing a jolt like this with high-risk, high-reward opportunities on the horizon.

Emanuel Navarrete, Sugar Nunez promise sweet Mexican civil war

Mexican junior lightweight champions Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete and Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez are anticipating a savory civil war when they square off February 28 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona on DAZN.

The title unification bout headliners are already guaranteeing a brutal barnburner.

"I've always been clamoring to unify my titles, and finally, my dream is coming true,” said Navarrete. “I want to tell everyone to expect a war between Mexicans, and that I'm willing to die fighting to defend what's mine. I have a lot of respect for Nunez, but this is my moment, and I’m twice as motivated … I promise you a war and a great show. I'm going to win this fight."

Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) has been an active champion since 2018, winning titles at 122, 126 and 130 pounds along the way. But his last four fights have been uneven, marked by a record of 1-1-1, with a no-contest.

Navarrete’s WBO title defense in May against Charly Suarez eventually resulted in a controversial NC. Navarrete originally scored a technical decision win that was later overturned after it was ruled that a punch caused a fight-ending cut near his eye, not a headbutt.

Prior to squaring off against Suarez, Navarrete knocked out Oscar Valdez in a rematch, looked sluggish in a 135-pound title fight and split decision loss to Denys Berinchyk and settled for a majority draw against Robson Conceicao despite dropping him twice.

Navarrete needs to be on his A-game against Suarez (29-1, 27 KOs), a relentless power-puncher who became the IBF 130-pound titleholder in May by beating Masanori Rikiishi. Suarez defended the title in September against Christopher Diaz-Velez, but his last two fights have reached the final bell after kicking off his career with 27 consecutive KOs.

“I'm very excited and eager to be in the ring with Navarrete,” said Nunez. “He's a fighter I've always admired, and it will be an honor to unify the titles. Above all, it will be a great fight for all the fans. Mexico vs. Mexico is a guaranteed war — and this one will be no exception.”

EMILIANO VARGAS, TAHMIR SMALLS TOP UNDERCARD OF EMANUEL NAVARRETE VS. EDUARDO NUNEZ

Emiliano Vargas is ready to kick off his 2026.

The red-hot 140-pound prospect is returning Feb. 28 against Ezequiel Quintana in Glendale, Arizona, at Desert Diamond Arena. In the main event The Ring’s No. 2 130-pounder, Emanuel Navarrete, and No. 4 Eduardo Nunez will attempt to unify the division on DAZN.

While they’ll be putting their WBO and IBF straps on the line, Vargas (16-0, 13 KOs) will do his best to steal the show.

The 21-year-old has looked terrific. In four 2025 appearances, he dazzled. Vargas went 4-0 with three of those victories coming via quick stoppage. Quintana, however, figures to be more durable.

The veteran journeyman has been stopped just once in 25 fights. Quintana (22-2-1, 13 KOs) is on a roll, having his hand raised in victory four times in a row. He kept that streak alive in 2025 with a lopsided points win over Walter Cordoba, and grabbed the biggest victory of his career the year prior.

Most expected Quintana to get steamrolled against Marc Castro in 2024. Nevertheless, Quintana fought fire with fire and beat the former highly touted prospect at his own game by split division win.

Joining Vargas on the undercard also will be Tahmir Smalls, who takes on Abel Ramos, a veteran contender and three-time title challenger.

Later this month

Navarrete is definitely past his best but does he have enough left to turn back the challenge of Nunez?

There's something about these all Mexican meetings that brings out the best of them. National Pride.

DAZN will stream the Navarrete-Nunez card to all subscribers.

So that’s something.

Fight Week!!

Unification fight between 2 exciting Mexicans, criminally under the radar

Should be a very good scrap!

One to look forward to.

Eduardo Nunez promises a 'gunpowder' firefight with Emanuel Navarrete

Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez has participated in 30 pro bouts, stands as IBF super-featherweight champion and has knocked out 27 of his opponents.

But if you’ve never seen him fight or haven’t heard much of him, he understands and is positioned to do something about it Saturday night when Mexico’s Nunez, 29-1 (27 KOs), meets countryman and WBO champion Emanuel Navarrete, 39-2-1 (32 KOs), at Desert Diamond Arena on DAZN.

“You’ll see gunpowder and a fight that ends in a knockout,” Nunez told Boxing Scene Wednesday after visiting with fans at a Glendale auto parts store.

Perhaps the locale was fitting because Nunez, 28, has built his career as if he was wielding wrenches and screwdrivers while denting his hands underneath a vehicle lift.

His brilliance of finishing 18 of his bouts by the end of the third round was obscured because they took place in Mexico, with little television viewership.

While three-division champion Navarrete, 31, was backed by the promotional muscle of Top Rank, meaning his major prior fights were shown on ESPN, Nunez was discovered by veteran advisor Sean Gibbons, landed a union with Matchroom, and now is positioned for a breakout performance.

“Thank you to all the people who are looking forward to this fight. I’ve put in all the hard work to ensure this will be a great fight for the fans,” he said.

Navarrete is also all-action, but his motor has sputtered in the recent past.

His 2024 effort to become a four-division champion was thwarted by Denys Berinchyk, who promptly turned over the WBO lightweight belt to Keyshawn Davis.

And in May, Navarrete was gifted a technical-decision victory over Charly Suarez after a video replay that was inconclusive during the California State Athletic Commission’s allotted review time ultimately indicated a punch – not a headbutt – forced Navarrete to stop.

A timely ruling would’ve made the Philippines’ Suarez the winner. Now, he’s here, hoping to get a crack at Saturday’s winner.

Asked if he believes Navarrete is ripe for a beating Saturday, Nunez expressed respect.

“I think he’s a great champion and great warrior,” Nunez said. “While some things have not gone his way, perhaps, I still believe he’s a wonderful fighter and we’ve put in the hard work, knowing he’s a great champion and that we have to give it our all.”

Nunez said new fans should expect “‘Sugar’ Nunez will go in very well prepared, with that winning mentality. You can expect a great fight.”

In addition to Suarez, WBC 130lbs champion O’Shaquie Foster and Top Rank’s WBC featherweight champion Rafael Espinoza loom as future foes.

“To be totally sincere, I’m totally focused on the commitment on the fight in front of me against a great champion,” Nunez said.

When asked if he could show an indication he maintains interest in Foster and Espinoza, Nunez picked up some English direction quickly.

He nodded yes, and laughed vigorously.

Showing a sense of humor: check.

Revealing his true punching wickedness: That comes Saturday.

I think this has the potential to be a classic. One of those Mexican Pride battles from the early 2000s.

At least that's what I am telling my Latino colleagues at work who are more into UFC or Jake Paul stuff.

NUNEZ EXPECTS 'WAR FROM THE VERY FIRST ROUND' IN NAVARRETE UNIFICATION

Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez realizes he is about to engage in something special Saturday night.

The IBF junior lightweight champion proudly predicted that his title unification clash with countryman Emanuel Navarrete will become an instant classic. Nunez anticipates nothing short of a spectacular slugfest that’ll do Mexican legends like Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales proud.

“The style matchup between myself and Emanuel Navarrete, I feel it will be a war from the very first round,” Nunez told The Ring. “I don’t believe this fight goes 12 rounds. And to be completely honest with you, I don’t see myself losing. I have a winning mentality going into this difficult 12 rounds and really believe I’ll come out the winner.”

Los Mochis’ Nunez (29-1, 27 KOs) promised that thrill-thirsty fans will be the real winners when he and Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs, 1 NC) go at it in a 12-round main event DAZN will stream worldwide from Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona (8 p.m. ET; 5 p.m. PT).

“Because of our styles and winning mentalities, it will be a true war, and will go down as a really fantastic war,” Nunez said. “And things will be written about this fight. I hope in the future that it can be repeated. First and foremost, we hope we both come out healthy from the ring, that we’re both able to leave on our own two feet.”

Nunez understands that the unconventional Navarrete will probably present challenges he hasn’t encountered in any of his first 30 professional fights.

A courageous Christopher Diaz took Nunez 12 rounds in his last fight, an action-packed bout Nunez won by unanimous decision September 6 in Los Mochis. That hard-fought victory over Puerto Rico’s Diaz (30-6, 19 KOs) represented Nunez’s first defense of a then-unclaimed IBF belt he won when he outpointed Japan’s Masanori Rikiishi (16-2, 11 KOs) unanimously May 28 in Rikiishi’s hometown of Yokohama.

San Juan Zitlaltepec’s Navarrete is an awkward, relentless three-division champion, however, much more accomplished than anyone Nunez has encountered.

“I think Navarrete is the hardest opponent you can face at 130 pounds,” Nunez said. “So, I think to end the fight [by knockout] would say a great deal about ‘Sugar’ Nunez. I believe I can make that happen. I believe in the work that we do, my corner and believe in God. Simply being in this fight shows that I’ve made certain steps in my career to face a fighter like Navarrete. It’s an opportunity that I’ve wanted for quite a long time and now it’s just almost around the corner. I feel like it’s a great challenge, an important step I need to make in my career.”

If Nunez can take Navarrete's WBO belt, he is convinced holding two titles will make him a more appealing opponent for WBC champ O’Shaquie Foster (24-3, 12 KOs) or the winner between WBA titleholder James “Jazza” Dickens (36-5, 15 KOs) and Anthony Cacace (24-1, 9 KOs) on March 14 at 3Arena in Dublin.
“First, God willing, we get through this really tough fight that I have with Navarrete,” Nunez said. “But looking beyond that, if I were to have those [two] belts, I’m sure the other champions would be really interested in the possibility of going on and unifying the division.”

Emanuel Navarrete's US arrival delayed by passport issues

WBO junior lightweight titleholder Emanuel Navarrete experienced passport issues before leaving Mexico, delaying his arrival here for his Saturday night unification against Mexican countryman and IBF belt holder Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez, Boxing Scene confirmed Thursday.

Navarrete, 39-2-1 (32 KOs), missed Thursday’s news conference due to the troubles, which forced the session to be postponed to 6:30 p.m.

Navarrete was originally due to arrive at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport around 7 p.m. Wednesday, and then greet fans.

The Boxing Hour’s Norm Frauenheim first reported the clearance issues delaying Navarrete, whose rescheduled flight is due in at 8 p.m. Mountain time Thursday, two officials said.

The weigh-in is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday.