Nunez Vs Rikiishi: Power Struggle For Vacant IBF Championship

Two worlds will collide on Wednesday, 28 May 2025, when Eduardo Nunez (27-1, 27 KOs) will bring his perfect knockout record to Japan’s backyard.

Standing on his way will be hometown hero Masanori Rikiishi (16-1, 11 KOs), who is ready to defend his turf at Yokohama Buntai.

Both men carry devastating power in their fists, and only one will walk away as the winner of the IBF Super Featherweight championship title. The stakes couldn't be higher for this bout that only emerged after Anthony Cacace cancelled the title in January. Leaving up to the IBF title, which resides between the best available fighters in the division.

Nunez, 27, from Jahuara II, El Fuerte, Sinaloa, Mexico, carries the most Devastating punching power backed by his 100% KO ratio. The pressure is on for Nunez, who trains under the Montiel family of boxers, who have been known to produce world champions. The former IBF mandatory challenger punched above his weight class, earned his shot with an eleventh-round stoppage of Shavkat Rakhimov. Nunez achieved an elite status, coming off with a six-round knockout of Miguel Marriga in his most recent outing, bringing his seventeen-match win streak to fruition.

"I waited my whole career for this moment," said Nunez to the press during the pre-match conference at Yokohama on March 15th, 2025.

For Rikiishi, 30 years old and born in Suzuka, Mie represents Japan's younger generation of boxing talent, who fights out of the Ohashi Gym in Yokohama. His story this year undoubtedly has been a good one; after recovering from the only loss of his career, Rikiishi rallied back winning thirteen fights back to back, including a current streak of five fights producing knockouts of that opponents.

The style of Rikiishi and Nunez could not contrast any greater- Rikiishi's southpaw aggression contrasting Nunez' orthodox pressure with fight ending potential. Although Nunez may record a heavier punch, Rikiishi will have all of the youth and local knowledge on his side.

This bout is a co-main with Yoshiki Takei's WBO bantamweight title, making a championship double-header.

This opportunity presents a fantastic orthodox versus southpaw battle guaranteeing to be a spectacular effort from each fighter aspiring to become the new super featherweight champion in a night that will define two careers.