Eduardo Nunez Vs. Emanuel Navarrete – How Does It Play Out?

A unification bout has been agreed for March 7 between WBO Super-Featherweight Champion Emanuel Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) and IBF Champion Eduardo Nunez (29-1-0, 27 KOs) from the Mortgage Matchup Center.

The fight has been announced after Navarrete’s mandatory challenger, Charly Suarez, agreed to a step-aside deal. This was after the WBO had ordered an immediate rematch following their first fight, which was stopped after a cut on Navarrete. Navarrete was given the win on a technical decision after it was ruled as an accidental headbutt. However, the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) made it a no-contest after confirming the cut was caused by a legal punch from Suarez, not a headbutt. However, with a step-aside deal agreed with Suarez’s camp, Navarrete can now chase the IBF belt. 

The Approach

Navarrete’s goal will be to utilize his superior height and reach advantage to frustrate Nunez. He will likely throw looping, wide hooks and uppercuts from unusual angles to force Nunez to cover up. Navarrete’s conditioning allows him to sustain this volume, turning the fight into a war of attrition where Nunez is forced to work harder. He will be looking to force a stoppage through accumulation of punishment, rather than relying on one single knockout blow. 

Nunez’s approach will be to cut off the ring—using subtle footwork to block Navarrete’s escape routes and drive him towards the ropes. Once inside, Nunez will employ a body attack to break down Navarrete’s stamina, slow his high punch output, and drop his guard for headshots later in the fight. Nunez will be seeking to counter-punch over Navarrete’s looping shots since Navarrete is prone to leaving defensive gaps when throwing his awkward combinations.

Navarrete will use frequent lateral movement and his long jab to keep Nunez in the mid-to-long range. If Nunez succeeds in closing the distance, Navarrete will need to make a defensive adjustment, possibly resorting to clinching to reset.