Unification In Sight: Navarrete’s Ring Invasion Signals A Clash With Nunez

Emanuel Navarrete entered the ring to congratulate and have a face-off with IBF super featherweight champion Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Nunez (29-1, 27 KOs) following his crowd-pleasing 12-round unanimous decision win over Christopher Diaz (30-6, 19 KOs) on Saturday night at the Centro de Usos Multiples, Los Mochis, Mexico.

(Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom)

A Unification Fight Teased

With WBO super featherweight champion Navarrete, 30, being granted access to the ring for a face-off with Nunez, it suggests that Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn may be planning a unification fight between them.

Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) still needs to face Charly Suarez in the WBO-ordered rematch to clear up the controversy of their fight earlier this year on May 10. That fight was stopped due to a cut over Navarrete’s left eye that was initially ruled to have been caused by an accidental head clash in the sixth round. If Navarrete is victorious in the rematch with Suarez, an unification clash with ‘Sugar’ Nunez would be ideal.

‘Sugar’ Nunez, 30, did not look impressive beating #14 IBF Diaz on Saturday night. He absorbed a lot of heavy shots from Diaz and appeared close to being knocked out in the 12th. The judges gave Nunez the victory by the wide scores of 117-109, 117-109, and 116-110. While the fight did appear closer than the scores handed in, Nunez did appear to have done enough to deserve the win.

Nunez’s Vulnerable Victory

Nunez looked vulnerable throughout and showed little power in comparison to Diaz. It was hard to believe that Nunez has such an impressive knockout record despite not being a big puncher. Tonight’s fight showed that ‘Sugar’ Nunez is a high-volume puncher in the William Zepeda mold, but not equipped with his size or power.

Hearn needs to decide which is the best option for Nunez’s next fight, as he looked very beatable against Diaz. Matching Nunez against #4 Raymond Ford would be a mistake. Ford has too many skills and would likely defeat him.

If Hearn wants Eduardo to hold onto his IBF title as long as possible, he should forget about Navarrete. That would be too difficult a fight for him.

Better options for Nunez

• Ryan Garner
• Liam Wilson
• Danny Quartermaine
• Mauricio Lara