The already-proposed and hyped super featherweight title unification fight between Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez and Emanuel Navarrete is close to being done.
Mike Coppinger of The Ring reports that January 24 in Phoenix is a possible date for the Matchroom-promoted bout, but that Top Rank — Navarrete’s promoter — must first get the details done for Charly Suarez to “step aside” as Navarrete’s mandatory challenger.
Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KO) went to a no-contest with Suarez on May 10 in San Diego, a fight that was originally ruled a technical decision, and a narrow one, in Navarrete’s favor, before being changed to a no-contest on June 2.
The 30-year-old Navarrete has been a world titleholder in three divisions (122, 126, 130), and challenged for a fourth title at lightweight in 2024, losing a decision to Denys Berinchyk. He’s 1-1-1 with a no-contest in his last four bouts, dating back to 2023, but remains one of the most reliably entertaining fighters, and a strong name at 130 lbs, not to mention he still holds the WBO belt.
Nunez (29-1, 27 KO) is more of a newcomer to the higher ranks of the sport, going to Japan to claim the vacant IBF super featherweight title in May, 18 days after Navarrete and Suarez had their bout. He made a successful first defense against Christopher Diaz on September 6 in Los Mochis, Mexico, after which Navarrete came into the ring and the two respectfully set up the idea of unification.
The 28-year-old Nunez would be facing his highest-profile opponent to date, in what would be his biggest fight to date, and a chance to really solidify himself as a top super featherweight.
January 24, for what it’s worth, is also a proposed date for Manny Pacquiao to return to action, which would probably see Nunez vs Navarrete pushed back a week if confirmed, but the Pacquiao deal is far from concrete at this point, with Manny saying his team are talking with Floyd Mayweather for a 2026 rematch, as well as Vasiliy Lomachenko for a possible exhibition, and there’s still talk about him fighting Rolly Romero for the WBA welterweight title.
