Navarrete’s name still means something at 130 pounds. He’s a three-division title holder, awkward, busy and tested. However, over the past three years, the version in the ring has looked different from the one that stormed through 126 and 130. The draw with Robson Conceição led many to believe he had done enough to lose. The fight with Charly Suarez ended in a cut while Navarrete appeared to be behind. He also dropped a split decision to Denys Berinchyk in 2024, a fight that many observers felt was wider than the scorecards suggested.
Beating this version of Navarrete is not easy to interpret. A dominant finish would instantly elevate Núñez, while a hard, close decision would prompt questions about timing rather than authority, and a loss would narrow his path near the top. That’s why he keeps returning to the knockout.
A decision victory will unify belts, but a stoppage will change perception in a way the scorecards cannot. Navarrete has rarely been physically broken down, so stopping him would suggest Núñez’s 27 knockouts translate upwards against a champion who has handled nearly every style at this level.
Against Christopher Diaz, Núñez went the full 12 rounds and earned the decision, but Diaz was the heavier punch throughout. Núñez distinguished himself through activity and tenacity rather than raw power, leaving open the question of how he carries power against top opposition.
Now he faces a 31-year-old champion who has taken hard rounds across divisions, while Núñez, at 28, is entering his physical prime. This is the kind of opponent he must deal with decisively if he expects to be considered a real threat to O’Shaquie Foster and the other belt holders in the division.
Núñez and Navarrete meet Saturday at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. The main event is streaming live worldwide on DAZN.
