Get ready, boxing fans, because a blockbuster unification bout is on the horizon! Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez and Emanuel Navarrete are set to clash in a highly anticipated IBF/WBO 130lbs unification fight, scheduled for March 7th. This all-Mexican showdown promises fireworks, and it's already generating a buzz among boxing enthusiasts.
BoxingScene has confirmed that all the necessary agreements are in place, solidifying this exciting matchup. The fight will be the main event of a DAZN show, taking place at the Mortgage Matchup Center, home of the Phoenix Suns. Ring Magazine was the first to break the news that a deal had been finalized.
But here's where it gets controversial... The path to this fight wasn't entirely smooth. The WBO had issued a 15-day deadline for both sides to reach an agreement, as reported by BoxingScene. The main hurdle wasn't the fighters themselves, but rather, finding a suitable compensation package for Charly Suarez of the Philippines, who was entitled to a mandatory rematch with Navarrete.
Top Rank promotes both Navarrete and Suarez, while Nunez is with Matchroom Boxing and BXSTRS. Both sides provided the WBO with an update during the ratings portion of the sanctioning body’s 38th annual convention in Bogota, Colombia.
Navarrete, with a record of 39-2-1 (32 KOs), previously secured a technical decision win over Suarez (18-0, 10 KOs) on May 10th in San Diego. The way the fight concluded sparked immediate controversy, particularly from Suarez's camp, who felt their fighter was robbed of a stoppage victory and the WBO 130lbs title. An immediate rematch was ordered, but the situation stalled for weeks.
It later came to light that Navarrete shifted his focus to Nunez (29-1, 27 KOs) shortly after Nunez's victory over Christopher Diaz on September 6th in Los Mochis, Mexico. The fight was finally approved once Suarez's team was satisfied with the undisclosed terms of his step-aside deal.
Nunez, with that win, defended the IBF title for the first time, less than four months after he defeated Masanori Rikiishi on May 28th in Yokohama, Japan.
Navarrete, a three-division titleholder, had been seeking a unification bout for some time. His current reign seemed destined to face the same fate until Top Rank and Matchroom discussed the possibility of this fight.
Navarrete has a strong connection to the Phoenix area. His WBO 130lbs title win and first defense both took place at the Desert Diamond Arena in nearby Glendale. He impressively rose from the canvas to stop Liam Wilson in the ninth round of their February 2023 thriller and then outpointed former two-division champ Oscar Valdez over 12 rounds in August 2023.
Navarrete will be fighting at this venue for the second time. His previous appearance was in his one-sided rematch with Valdez, whom he stopped in the sixth round of their December 7th clash at what was then known as Footprint Center. The venue was renamed in early October to Mortgage Matchup Center. The partnership is through United Wholesale Mortgage, whose CEO Mat Ishiba is also the owner of the Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.
Navarrete will now headline the building’s two most recent boxing events. The arena did not host any boxing cards in 2025 after providing three the year prior. Six months before the Navarrete-Valdez rematch, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez became a two-time 115lbs champion with his off-the-canvas, seventh-round knockout of then lineal and WBC champ Juan Francisco Estrada last June 29.
What are your thoughts on this matchup? Do you think the delay with Suarez was justified? Share your opinions in the comments below!
