Mexicans
Emanuel Navarrete and
Eduardo "Sugar" Nunez are in the process of finalizing a deal for a 130-pound title unification fight early next year in the U.S., sources told The Ring.
Jan. 24 in Phoenix is one possibility being explored for a Matchroom Boxing headliner on DAZN, sources said.
Navarrete’s promoter, Top Rank, will first finalize a step-aside deal for mandatory challenger
Charly Suarez, per sources. Suarez challenged Navarrete for his WBO junior lightweight title in May in San Diego,
a fight that was ultimately ruled a no contest.
The bout was stopped in Round 8 after the doctor ruled Navarrate was unfit to continue due to a cut over his left eye. Navarrate won a technical decision, but it was later confirmed the cut was caused by a punch rather than a clash of heads, resulting in a no contest.
After the ruling, the WBO ordered an immediate rematch. But now, Suarez could wait for a shot at the winner of Navarrete-Nunez.
Navarrate is rated No. 2 by The Ring, while Nunez is No. 5. The fight shapes up as a sure-fire slugfest between Mexican action-fighters.
Nunez, 28, is coming off a grueling
unanimous-decision win over
Christopher Diaz in September in Mexico. Nunez floored Diaz twice in Round 7 of the thriller.
That was the first title defense for Nunez (30-1, 28 KOs).
Navarrete has previously won titles at 122 and 126 pounds.
Mike Coppinger is The Ring’s senior insider. He co-hosts “Inside the Ring” every Monday with Max Kellerman. Follow him on X/Instagram: @MikeCoppinger.