IBF super-featherweight world champion Eduardo Nunez had barely shaken off the sweat and wiped away the blood from his stirring 12-round war with Christopher Diaz, before his next moves were being proposed.
Promoter Eddie Hearn offered an upbeat assessment of the Los Mochis main event, then introduced a rival champion to the ring in an all-Mexican unification effort.
“That fight was everything about boxing. Mexico against Puerto Rico. All out war. Respect to Diaz. It was a close fight. With a knockdown, he was a clear winner,” buzzed Hearn.
“But, there’s another great Mexican war that I think needs to be made. And that’s Sugar Nunez against Emanuel Navarrete.”
Waddling into the ring, looking significantly heavier than the 130-pound weight class, Navarrete defended the WBO featherweight title against Christopher Diaz in 2021, stopping him in the 12th and final round. Emanuel was complimentary about the war in the ring.
“I think, first and foremost, you have to say congratulations to the champ, Nunez. I enjoyed the way he fought tonight. I thought it was a good fight. I know Pitufo (Diaz). I know what he comes with. He’s such a strong fighter.
“But I think it was 100% war tonight. I think it was going to be between those two nations (Mexico and Puerto Rico). I’d say thank you for tonight. It’d be a pleasure to fight Sugar Nunez. I mean, more than anything, Mexico wants that fight!”
Cue rapturous applause and fanfare from the Sinaloa faithful who signalled their interest in such a prospect. 30-year-old ‘Vaquero’ was last seen exiting the San Diego ring with his title intact after a no-contest with Charly Suarez.
“I want to say it’s a real honor to have you here right now,” said Nunez, who would fancy adding Navarrete’s WBO strap to his own IBF title.
“It’s great to hear you say that you want to fight me as well. I admire you a great deal. I’d love to share the ring with you. So let’s give Mexico that fight.”
Following a guarantee from Eddie Hearn that he would make the fight, Nunez went on to reveal how a hometown “advantage” had left him feeling a little nervous. While fighting away from home, there is less pressure, but there was a duty to perform in front of his own people.
That duty will carry to whenever Nunez and Navarrete put their respective titles on the line, at a time, date and location to be decided. That will also be a war – guaranteed.
