YOKOHAMA, Japan – Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez picked up the IBF junior lightweight title with a dominant 12-round points win over Masanori Rikiishi at the BUNTAI in Yokohama, Japan. The scores were 115-113, 116-112 and 117-111.
The Mexican puncher was taken the distance for just the second time in his career but, unlike when pipped over six by Hiram Gallardo in 2018, this time he was awarded the victory. Nunez, who rose to 28-1 (27 KOs), was made to wait for his shot at the belt after then-champion Anthony Cacace looked at more lucrative offers over a mandatory defense against Nunez. Cacace decided to vacate and take on Leigh Wood instead, and Nunez had to travel out to Japan, the homeland of Rikiishi for his title fight. Nunez may have been on away soil but he made the ring his home, and bashed up Rikiishi for 12 entertaining rounds.
The tall southpaw, who fell to 16-2 (11 KOs), started the contest by flicking out his southpaw jab as Nunez looked for an opening. The traveling Mexican blocked a few of Rikiishi’s right hands with his gloves, but a stiff jab from Rikiishi found the target midway through the round. He then tasted Nunez’s power for the first time in the second after a clubbing right hand landed on the top of his head.
The Japanese fighter immediately got on his bike, but threw a wild uppercut that narrowly missed as Nunez came in to land another. Rikiishi gained a foothold of sorts when a hard left brought a cheer from his home support. Nunez pressed on regardless, keen to not allow Rikiishi get into a rhythm. A right was blocked by Rikiishi before he landed a left uppercut and followed it with a right hook.
Nunez, however, upped the tempo in the fourth and Rikiishi looked a little shaken by the shots. The pair traded left uppercuts which resulted in Rikiishi being sent into the ropes. Nunez followed with an overhand right, the force of which caused the head of Rikiishi to jerk backwards. In the fifth, and struggling to block the storm of blows, Rikiishi elected to trade with the Mexican puncher. He had some success but it was the attacks of Nunez that were both more potent and accurate.
Rikiishi had to dig deep in the sixth when Nunez pinned him against the ropes and landed a hard right to his midsection. Every shot seemed to be slowly chipping away at the reserves of Japanese fighter, but he bit down on his gum shield, planted his feet, and uncorked a left hand that brought a huge cheer from the Yokohama crowd. The respite was brief, however.
Rikiishi was again under the cosh in the seventh round and as the klaxon sounded he began to unload on Nunez. He landed a hard left hand as the bell sounded that Nunez nodded in respect of as the pair returned to their corners. Rikiishi started the eighth well, flicking in his southpaw jab before cracking Nunez with a left hand. The crowd loved it, but Nunez quietened their cheers when he landed a left hand of his own moments later.
The ninth was entertaining as the rivals positioned themselves in the pocket and hammered away at each other. Still it was Nunez’s shots that were having more of an effect. Rikiishi’s own blows seemed to bounce off Nunez who made his opponent's legs buckle. At the start of the 10th round, Nunez upped his already considerable output to again force Rikiishi to the boundaries, a straight right causing the retreat.
The plucky home fighter tried to fight back but his legs were unsteady and, with more than two minutes left in the session, it seemed certain that Rikiishi would meet his demise but he yet again stood tall.
After a quieter 11th, Nunez pressed in the final three minutes in a hope of landing the 28th knockout of his professional career. It looked as though he might get it when a right hand landed that rocked Rikiishi to his boots. Nunez followed it with a left but the bell sounded moments later.
Nunez lifted his hands aloft as he knew he would finally receive the belt he had waited so long to fight for. The official decision was read out and the Mexican and his corner went wild. Rikiishi was cheered out by the home crowd after a brave showing in an entertaining contest. Big nights are now on the horizon for Nunez.