Herrera vs Nunez Predictions: Can Nunez withstand a Herrera display of power?

Unbeaten puncher Jadier Herrera takes on Ricardo Nunez for the WBC interim lightweight title this Saturday, January 10. The fight serves as chief support for Agit Kabayel’s heavyweight homecoming at the Rudolf Weber Arena in Oberhausen, Germany. DAZN will screen the event live.

Keep clued by reading my Herrera vs Nunez predictions below.

Herrera vs Nunez Odds

Herrera’s power and undefeated 17-fight record have seen him installed as a 1/14 favourite. Nunez is a storied veteran and frequent underdog, with a 9/1 no surprise. The draw is marketed at 16/1. A stalemate would be the first on the record of both men.

Herrera vs Nunez Fight Preview

It is easy to get carried away by a puncher. George Foreman and Mike Tyson’s place in the pantheon is self-explanatory. Naoya Inoue sits atop the game today with his crushing power largely responsible. Moses Itauma is attracting excitement during his heavyweight rise because he can’t stop stopping people.

Not all big-punching prospects take it all the way, though. Jeff Lacy was the super middleweight ‘Iron’ Mike until he wasn’t, as Joe Calzaghe brutally proved. David Tua had the chin of a stone statue and the fists to match, but sadly lacked the boxing acumen to claim world honours.

So where does Herrera sit within this dynamic? The Cuban southpaw has done everything required of him in 17 fights, stopping 15 opponents. Nobody has taken the 23-year-old the to the scorecards since 2022. Even that was a technical decision after seven of eight rounds were completed. Eight straight KOs have followed as Herrera has turned promise into a number-three ranking with the WBC.

Herrera’s opponent is number-one ranked Nunez. By virtue of their placings, this fight is for the WBC interim crown. The sanctioning bodies pump out these spurious belts ad hoc, but there is some wisdom to this particular green strap. 

WBC lightweight boss Shakur Stevenson moves up to 140lbs next time out, challenging WBO, The Ring and lineal leader Teofimo Lopez. Should he win, it is safe to assume he’ll stay at super lightweight. Ergo, the WBC would vacate their 135lbs crown and the winner of this fight, as interim kingpin, would be upgraded to the full shebang.

Lots on the line, then, in Oberhausen. Nunez’s participation in what is practically a world title fight is a bit strange. Ranked top of the WBC ratings despite coming off a loss, even the 32-year-old must be wondering what he’s doing here.

In his latest outing, Nunez lost by disqualification in the third round of a fight in which he’d already been down. The DQ came when Nunez inflicted a nasty cut on the ear of opponent Jon Fernandez with a combo thrown after the bell. With Fernandez unable to continue, Nunez took the L. His WBC ranking, somehow, was unaffected.

So what does Herrera bring, apart from a questionable understanding of the purpose of the ring bell? The Panamanian is certainly experienced. Herrera has fought Masanori Rikiishi, Zaur Abdullaev, Albert Batyrgaziev and Gervonta Davis. The issue being that all four beat him, with Rikiishi stopping him in three rounds and ‘Tank’ doing so in two in their WBA super featherweight title collision.

Nunez does own creditable wins over Alfredo Santiago and Pablo Vicente, but whenever he has set foot at world level he has been unceremoniously cut down to size. With Herrera looking set for the very top, it is hard to see the veteran breaking the habit of a lifetime with a big win.

Herrera vs Nunez Full Card

Agit Kabayel vs Damian Knyba

Jadier Herrera vs Ricardo Nunez

Gleb Bakshi vs Juan Jose Rodriguez Duran

Granit Shala vs Petar Milas

Oronzo Birardi vs Milosav Savic

Kevin Saszik vs Patrick Schaefer

Daniel Dietz vs Seun Salami

Nelvie Tiafack vs Piotr Cwik

Roman Fury vs Toni Thes

Herrera vs Nunez Prediction

I think it is a case of when, not if, Herrera finishes this fight by knockout. The 23-year-old might learn some tricks of the trade from an opponent who has been in with the best. But Herrera feels destined to join those ranks himself and I think he will, by beating Nunez at 1/14.

You can find all our latest boxing betting tips and analysis at our Betfred Insights Boxing page and our latest boxing odds here.