Fearsome power-puncher Eduardo Nuñez will get his first world title opportunity when he faces Masanori Rikiishi for the vacant IBF junior lightweight title on Wednesday at Yokohama Buntai, Yokohama, Japan.

Nuñez, rated No. 6 by The Ring at junior lightweight, is ready to become his boxing-crazy country's latest world champion.

"It's the moment I've been waiting for and for which I've worked so hard since I started boxing," Nunez told The Ring through Oswaldo Kuchle who co-promotes with Matchroom. "It's a great honor for me to represent Mexico and a great responsibility to live up to the expectations of being a champion after having achieved all my victories by way of knockout, although statistics are left aside in the ring."

The 27-year-old has prepared diligently at Fernando Montiel's state of the art Kochul Gym, in Los Mochis.

"We have studied Rikiishi well, he is a fast left-handed fighter who also knows how to go forward, but my team has already done their work and we have an infallible strategy," he said confidently. "Don Manuel 'Kochul' Montiel and his sons Manuel, Pedro and Eduardo, they are experts in world championship fights."

The two will meet for the vacant title because previous incumbent Anthony Cacace decided to relinquish the IBF belt in favor of a showdown with Leigh Wood, who he ended up stopping in nine-rounds.

"My goal is the world title, not a fighter," he said when asked about Cacace vacating. "He'll know his reasons, and maybe someday we'll meet in the ring. At first, I felt angry, but I wish him the best, even though he made me wait."

Something Nuñez and Rikiishi have in common is that both scored impressive late knockouts on the road.

Rikiishi was behind on the scorecards in Italy against local hero Michael Magnesi but was able to score the unlikely comeback win in the final seconds of the fight.

Meanwhile, Nuñez ventured to Tajikistan and stopped former IBF titlist Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov in the 11th round last year.

"Of course, that's why we're ranked among the best in the world and we're going to fight for the crown," he said. "It's a very tough fight that could go either way. I'm mentally and physically prepared to fight the best version of Rikiishi in his own home and put on the perfect fight to return home as the new 130-pound champion, because I promised my brother Luis Fernando, may he rest in peace.

"Being away from home is even more motivating for me, knowing that so many people are supporting me, and watching my fight. Receiving so many messages of encouragement was a great experience from which I learned a lot, now we are going to a new experience in a different culture."

Kuchle, of Latin KO, appreciates going on the road will add more complexity to the title challenge but believes it won't hinder his fighter from ultimately claiming the set out objective of becoming world champion.

"[It's] very tough to go to Japan but we're confident in Nuñez," said Kuchle. "He is a very disciplined fighter; he's mentality is very strong and he's ready to conquer the title.

"It's a very complicated fight, especially given the history between Mexicans and Japanese fighters in recent years, but 'Sugar' is a fighter destined to be a world champion, and I'm sure he'll break the losing streak of Mexican boxers. We're about to see two of the best at 130 pounds in a duel that will be spectacular. Núñez has a promise to keep to his brother, and I'm sure he'll return as a world champion. We have great confidence in his talent and his impressive punch."

Rikiishi (16-1, 11 KOs) turned professional in 2017. He lost his third bout to future Japanese and OPBF 130-pound titlist Kosuke Saka (TKO 2). To his credit, he rebounded strongly with eight wins before landing the aforementioned OPBF belt against veteran Takuya Watanabe (UD 12) in 2022.

The 30-year-old made one defense before shifting his attention to the international scene. The younger brother of two-weight titleholder Masamichi Yabuki headed to Italy where he scored a come from behind 12th-round knockout over Michael Magnesi.