Núñez brings a record of 29-1 with 27 knockouts, but his recent form tells a more complicated story. Taking a decision over veteran Christopher Díaz in Mexico, he struggled to pull away over the 12-round distance. His signature power seemed to disappear in the championship rounds, leading many to believe that Díaz deserved a much closer result.
Despite the shaky performance, Eddie Hearn spent the week talking up Núñez and portraying him as the fresher and more clinical champion in this pairing.
Navarrete arrives under a cloud of uncertainty after a chaotic outing against Charly Suarez. Originally, a technical decision decided victory for the champion, but the result was converted to a no contest after video evidence proved that a serious cut was caused by a Suarez left hook, not a clash of heads.
Although the California State Athletic Commission ordered a return game, it never happened. The fallout from that night lingers, exposing cracks in Navarrete’s defensive shell and raising red flags about how he handles a disciplined, heavy-handed counterpuncher.
The atmosphere in Glendale brings its own brand of pressure. Arizona usually draws a massive Mexican fan base that splits its loyalties between both men, removing any home ring edge. It shifts the focus entirely to national pride and the belts on the line, raising the intensity for a unification where the emotional stakes are as high as the physical.
When two Mexican fighters meet, there is an unspoken pressure to deliver a “war”. Neither man wants to be the one backpedaling a safety-first style or fighting in front of a crowd that expects non-stop action. This often leads to both guys taking risks they might not take against an international opponent.
Navarrete is a three-division champion, but Núñez is the hungry IBF titleholder looking to take his place. In Mexican boxing history, these passing-of-the-torch moments are legendary (think Barrera vs. Morales). It is a battle for his position within the hierarchy of Mexican greats.
The game is streaming live on DAZN from Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
