Boxing
Navarrete, Nunez Gain weight after fear of traveling
“On the way here, we encountered some setbacks and circumstances that were beyond our control,” Navarrete said. “But we are excited to be here and for all our attractive fans to have their voices heard. There is nothing to say, we just can’t wait for the pan-Mexican war.”
There were no problems during Friday’s weigh-in. Navarrete weighed 129.2 pounds. IBF titleholder Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez had 129.8. They both easily passed the 130-pound limit, which was a relief for Navarrete after previous weight issues in the Phoenix area.
DAZN will broadcast his 12-round unification fight on Saturday night from the Desert Diamond Arena.
For Navarrete, who has a record of 39-2-1 and 32 knockouts, this venue made history. He began his 130-pound title run there in February 2023, climbing the canvas to stop Liam Wilson in the ninth round of a wild fight. It’s the only knockdown of his career that ended with him pushing forward until Wilson folded.
He later defeated Oscar Valdez by unanimous decision in the same building and stopped him in six rounds in a rematch in 2024 in downtown Phoenix. His only appearance in 2025 ended chaotically – he won a technical decision over Charly Suarez, which was later overturned by the California State Athletic Commission. The WBO ordered a mandatory defense against Suarez for the winner.
Nunez, 30-1 with 28 knockouts, arrives with his own proof of development. After a streak of 18 straight stoppages, he was forced to go 12 rounds to win the IBF title from Masanori Rikiishi in Japan, then go the distance in defense against Christopher Diaz in Mexico. Power remains, but so does patience.
“Navarrete is a tough style to tackle,” Nunez said. “We believe we have repeated this style in sparring. One thing we know is that with Emanuel Navarrete you can always expect war. He was a great champion for a long, long time. But we are ready to write our own history.”
This will be the first unification fight for both fighters. It’s also a clash of style between Navarrete’s volume and awkward angles and Nunez’s shorter, heavier bursts. One of them walks away with two lanes and a mandatory wait. The second returns to rebuilding in a division that does not forgive fluctuations.
Undercard weighing results:
junior welterweight – Emiliano Vargas 139.8, Agustin Quintana 139.6
Welterweight – Tahmir Smalls 147.0, Abel Ramos 146.2
Junior featherweight category – Arturo Cardenas 122.0, Jordan Martinez 121.8
Ben Whittaker’s next few months are already taking shape following his quick knockout victory in Liverpool, and Adam Smith outlines a busy summer schedule that should finally see the delicate heavyweight fighter face stronger tests
Smith said Whittaker is expected to return to the United States in overdue June on the Jaron “Boots” Ennis card, then return to the UK in the summer for a major date in his hometown of Birmingham.
Whittaker stopped Brian Suarez in two rounds last weekend and performed brilliantly throughout, adding another early finish to the stretch that helped rebuild attention around him after his first fight with Liam Cameron ended in a draw.
Smith said the June outing would support expose Whittaker to a wider audience ahead of a bigger national night later in the year.
“He will fight at the end of June in America at the Boots Ennis gala. That’s good. Show him to a global audience. Then he will come back here in overdue summer, maybe early September and fight in Birmingham in a huge fight,” Adam Smith said in an interview with Sport Boxing.
Smith also named British opponents who could be next, naming Lyndon Arthur, Brad Rea and Craig Richards as possible options once Whittaker returns home.
Smith believes that in the long term, bigger domestic fights with Joshua Buatsi and Anthony Yard should come within the next year if Whittaker continues to win.
“Buatsis and Yards need to be delivered within the next 6-12 months.”
Whittaker has had a lot of notoriety since turning pro, but the activity and matchmaking are looking more grave now. The next two fights should tell more than the first ten.
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Last updated: 24/04/2026 at 17:38
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