Navarrete Vs Nuñez: The Next Great Mexican Rivalry?

By Miguel Maravilla

In what is expected to be a Fight of the Year candidate, Mexican super featherweight champions, Emanuel Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) of Mexico City, and Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez (29-1, 27 KO’s) of Los Mochis, Sinaloa clash in unification bout this Saturday night at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona live on DAZN.

It is a matchup that has all the potential to be a fan friendly fight and more. With the styles matching up as Navarrete and Nuñez are known sluggers. Theres a good chance we are looking at the next great Mexican Rivalry in boxing.

Over the years boxing has had some great Mexican rivalries. Just like great champions come around once in a great while, the same goes for rivalries as we look back at the most memorable Mexican boxing rivalries of our time.

Barrera – Morales
In what is perhaps one of the best Mexican boxing rivalries of all times, Tijuana’s Erik “El Terrible” Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico City slugged it out for twelve rounds in a super bantamweight unification. 26 years ago, February 19, 2000, a fight in which Morales squeaked out a split decision. It was a thrilling fight that won the Ring Magazine 2000 Fight of the Year.

What followed a few years later was a pair of rematches as Barrera would go on to win thrilling decisions in 2002 at featherweight and in 2004 at super featherweight. A trilogy of action-packed fights, and 36 rounds of entertainment, the Barrera-Morales rivalry is one of the best in boxing.

Vasquez-Marquez

Super Bantamweights Rafael Marquez and the late Israel Vasquez began their epic four fight rivalry on March 3rd, 2007, at the “War Grounds” Home Depot Center (DH Sports Park) in Carson, California. The Mexico City fighters went at it toe-to-toe for seven rounds however the bout was stopped as Vasquez could not continue due to a broken nose as Marquez was declared the winner.

The rematch ensued a few months later in August as the fight continued where it left off, a toe-to-toe battle as Vasquez avenged his defeat by stopping Marquez in the sixth. The fight won 2007 Fight of the Year.

With the rivalry tied at one a piece, the rubber match was set in March of 2008 once again at the “War Grounds” in Carson. The fight was a twelve-round war as Vasquez would go on to win a split decision and the fight won the 2008 Fight of the Year.

The rivalry wasn’t over yet, two years later Vasquez and Marquez renewed their rivalry however it was the least entertaining of the four fights with Marquez stopping Vasquez in the third round. Nevertheless, the Israel Vasquez-Rafael Marquez Rivalry was the last great Mexican boxing rivalry we witnessed.

Navarrete vs. Nuñez Preview

In what will be Mexico City vs. Los Mochis, the two champions will be representing their hometown and country when they square off.

Nuñez, traveled to Japan last year and captured the vacant IBF super featherweight title with a unanimous decision over Masanori Rikishi. Making his first title defense, Nuñez dominated Christopher Diaz in a homecoming fight in Los Mochis.

Coming from the fighting town of Los Mochis, the hard-hitting Nuñez adds to the list of champions to hail from Los Mochis. Notable champions include most recently former champion Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela, four division world champion Jorge Arce, Fernando Montiel, Humberto Soto, Hugo Ruiz and Antonio DeMarco.

Navarrete, a three-division world champion won his first world title back in 2018 when he defeated Isaac Dogboe to win the WBO super bantamweight title. Winning his second world title in 2020, Navarrete edged out Ruben Villa to capture the vacant WBO featherweight title. Moving up to 130 lb. division, Navarrete won the vacant WBO title by stopping Liam Wilson in 9 rounds. Navarrete’s last defeat came against Denis Berinchyk as he dropped a split decision in his bid at a fourth world title in four divisions. El Vaquero also has a pair of victories over former world champion Oscar Valdez. He is coming off a no-contest to Charly Suarez. The bout was originally declared a technical decision in favor of Navarrete but was later overruled to a no-contest.

The Mexico City cowboy Navarrete brings an aggressive but awkward style. Hailing from the great metropolis of Mexico City which has produced many world champions and Hall of Famers such as Ruben Olivares, the late Salvador Sanchez, Daniel Zaragoza, Ricardo Lopez, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Juan Manuel Marquez.

Overall, matchup styles have the ingredients to make for an explosive fight. With both fighters favoring the exchange, Navarrete and Nuñez know only one thing and that is to go forward.

Navarrete doesn’t bring any flashy style, technique, or extreme pop to the ring. However he has had his fair share of knockouts and is exciting to watch. Vaquero comes to this fight with a lot of ring savvy. Only question: how many of these types of battles will catch up to the 31-year-old. Experience goes to Navarrete in this one which can be a crucial point late in the fight.

As far as Nuñez goes, he always comes to fight and is always entertaining. Winning his first 27 fights by knockout, Sugar packs a lethal punch far from sweet. Having stepped up in competition, Nuñez has proven to go the distance and capable of going into deep waters. Now he steps up against a world class opponent in Navarrete.

This fight will be a case of will not skill- who will be left standing? Expect from the opening bell for Navarrete and Nuñez to test each other with big shots. Although the technique favors Nuñez, Navarrete’s awkwardness can be the neutralizer making this an ugly fight. One punch by either can change this fight, but in terms of knockout power, you must favor Nuñez. For this fight to be a good one, Nuñez cannot give Navarrete respect in the ring or the fight won’t live up to its potential.

The pick: Navarrete. I think the experience and ring savvy gets him through in what will be a tough fight and entertaining fight. However, anything can happen in this one.

Enjoy!

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