EDUARDO ‘SUGAR’ NUNEZ could, as promoter Eddie Hearn suggests, be the number-one fighter in his weight class.
He does, after all, possess several attributes – including a seemingly bottomless gas tank, destructive power and a dogged desire to win – that should see him emerge as a bona fide star of Mexican boxing.
But of course, it remains to be seen as to whether the 28-year-old does, in fact, have what it takes to topple the leading names in a stacked 130lb division.
His IBF world title defence against Christopher Diaz – a seasoned, and typically sturdy, customer – this Saturday is unlikely to provide us with a definitive answer.
So instead, Boxing News has taken a closer look at how Nunez, 28-1 (27 KOs), might fare against some of the top fighters at super-featherweight.
The Mexicans
In truth, these fights could all be considered flip-of-the-coin matchups, removing the need for any tactical advantages and instead placing total emphasis on physical strength and tenacity.
WBO champion Emanuel Navarrete, however, represents a somewhat less predictable box of tricks.
His unorthodox style – creating the illusion that he is almost sleepwalking – has proven nightmarish for several top-level operators in the lower divisions.
Especially for Nunez, though, Navarrete’s awkward angles would likely arrive as an enormous shock to the system, presenting him with a series of unfamiliar puzzles that may even appear unsolvable.
With that in mind, it is perhaps safe to assume that the aggressive style of Nunez would have far greater success against the likes of Eduardo Hernandez, Oscar Valdez and Luis Alberto Lopez, with all of whom representing stern, but no less winnable, assignments.
The Americans
WBC champion O’Shaquie Foster is, in fairness, a crafty technician who has displayed plenty of mettle in recent years.
But even so, a tendency to lose focus and, in doing so, present his opponents with greater openings has only added to his vulnerability.
Nunez, therefore, could take inspiration from Hernandez – who enjoyed pockets of success against Foster in 2023 – and exploit the opportunities that his countryman ultimately failed to take full advantage of.
A far less fruitful night’s work, on the other hand, would likely take place against Raymond Ford.
Ford proved in his last outing that he remains a level or two above Abraham Nova, a fighter who previously dropped a close split decision against Foster.
But more than that, ‘Savage’ has shown, especially in his remarkable come-from-behind victory against Otabek Kholmatov, that, even when his technical prowess only takes him so far, he will typically find an extra gear to get the job done.
And so, it is perhaps unsurprising that Nunez is not exactly chomping at the bit for a showdown with his Matchroom Boxing stablemate.
Elsewhere on the US super-featherweight scene, meanwhile, former world champion Gary Allen Russell Jr could emerge as a somewhat appealing opponent.
The 37-year-old returned with a 10th-round stoppage victory in July but, given his almost extraordinary lack of activity, and the momentum that remains behind Nunez, it is difficult to see Russell fiddling his way through each of their 12 rounds in convincing fashion.
The Europeans
With Lamont Roach Jr expected to remain at 135lbs, it is quite possible that Jazza Dickens, who comes off a mightily impressive fourth-round finish over Albert Batyrgaziev, could soon get upgraded from ‘interim’ to full WBA champion.
A unification with Nunez, then, could all of a sudden make perfect sense, but while Dickens may, indeed, represent his most proven opponent, one suspects that the Mexican’s relentless nature would nonetheless see him motor past the veteran.
As for Anthony Cacace, the Irishman could certainly be enticed by an opportunity to reclaim his IBF strap.
But again, it just seems with the 36-year-old that, at this stage in his career – even when considering his red-hot form – the constant pressure of Nunez would make for a surprisingly one-sided contest.
Back on these shores, meanwhile, we have a talented technician in Ryan Garner who, before long, is likely to emerge as a promising contender.
A lack of experience, however, would almost certainly lead to his downfall if he was to step through the ropes against Nunez.
Instead, a year down the line and – who knows? – perhaps Garner’s style will represent the perfect formula to dethrone the champion.
