Navarette vs Nunez Predictions: Unification would be sweet for ‘Sugar’

Emanuel Navarrete meets Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Nunez this Saturday, February 28. This IBF and WBO super featherweight title unification takes place at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. DAZN will cover the two-title tussle live on their platform. 

Read on for my Navarrete vs Nunez predictions ahead of this 130lbs firecracker.

Navarrete vs Nunez Odds

‘Sugar’ is in with a pretty sweet chance of victory according to the bookies, with odds of 1/2 for a win. Navarrete is not used to underdog status. The three-weight world champion is 7/4. The draw is priced at 16/1. 

Navarrete vs Nunez Fight Preview

There is something special about a high-level, all-Mexican scrap. Whether it’s the Barrera-Morales trilogy, the four Marquez-Vazquez contests or Ruben Olivares’ civil wars with Jesus Castillo and Rafael Herrera; the Latin American boxing hotbed produces incredible boxers and brilliant bouts.

The ingredients are there for this super featherweight title unification to enter the pantheon. Navarrete boasts 32 knockouts from 39 victories. Nunez brings a striking 27 finishes from his 29 victories. Each man has only lost once while they both sit in their physical prime; Navarrete is 31 while ‘Sugar’ is 28. Enough time for a trilogy, some might say…

Navarrete is in an unusual position. After positively gliding to world championships and super bantamweight and featherweight, the going has got tougher as he’s moved up in weight. Two wins over Oscar Valdez were good on paper and in practice. One a gritty but clear unanimous decision win, the other a six-round beating for a TKO win.

But those two wins over Valdez are Navarrete’s only victories in his last five fights. Tricky Robson Conceicao held Navarrete to a draw after 12 rounds, despite ‘Vaquero’ dropping his challenger twice. 

A move up to lightweight was a bridge too far, with then-WBO lightweight boss, the tough Ukrainian Denis Berinchyk, pipping Navarrete via split decision. Back at super featherweight, the Valdez rematch knockout was followed by a controversial No Contest with mandatory challenger Charly Suarez. 

A nasty gash impaired Navarrete, with the blood originally adjudged to have come from a headbutt. The WBO super featherweight kingpin originally won on the scorecards when the fight was stopped before the eighth round commenced. But upon review the result was changed to a No Contest, when it was determined a punch had caused the cut. If the referee had noticed that on the night, Suarez would have won by TKO.

Squeaking through is unlikely to be enough against Nunez. Matchroom’s popular Mexican knockout artist has been talked-about as a potential ‘Vaquero’ foe for a long time now. With the IBF title secured and then defended last year, the time is right for ‘Sugar’ to look to unify.

Nunez built his reputation on 27 consecutive knockout victories. Fans love a puncher and the quality of the men being punched increased to such a degree that Eduardo secured a crack at vacant IBF super featherweight belt against Masanori Rikiishi.  

Nunez heard the judges decision for the first time as a pro in Yokohama. Cards of 115-113, 167-112 and 117-111 favoured the Mexican. It was a furious display as Nunez expertly cut the ring off and tested Rikiishi’s iron jaw time and again. No KO, but Japan is not an easy place to go and walk away with a world title. Mission accomplished.

‘Sugar’ won more fans in his maiden title defence against Christopher Diaz. Another unanimous decision was rendered in his favour, but not before 12 brutal rounds of action. Nunez dropped Diaz in the seventh round but had to take plenty of punches in return in a savage contest. 

The IBF kingpin has built a brand on providing excitement. Navarrete is looking to restore his own reputation after some inconsistent recent performances and no shortage of lucky breaks. Everything to play for in Arizona.

Navarrete vs Nunez Full Card

Emanuel Navarrete vs Eduardo Nunez

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Navarrete vs Nunez Prediction

There is a question over Nunez’s top-line power, given the fact he was gone the distance in both of his world title fights. Admittedly Navarrete is a former super bantamweight, but so is Diaz. Nunez must prove he can punch with the best.

The fans will be hoping for an exhilarating contest and if Nunez executes his gameplan, that is exactly what they will get. Navarrete can be awkward and box from range, but his up-down war with Liam Wilson, the terrific Valdez scraps and his recent No Contest of attrition with Suarez show what he’s really about. 

Nunez is the sort of fighter who lights a fire in Navarrete and I think we will see the best version of the WBO champion in a while. But I do not think it will be enough. I reckon Nunez takes this one on points, possibly with a knockdown or two to his name. Nunez on the cards is 11/8.

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