Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez is confident about his defense of the IBF junior lightweight title against Christoper Diaz-Velez on Saturday night – and the next several defenses after that, too.
Nunez said at the fight-week press conference that this will be the “first defense of many.” At the Centro De Usos Multiples in Los Mochis, Mexico, Nunez will get the opportunity to back up the first half of those bold words in a fight that will stream on DAZN.
“It's great to have this first defense at home here in Los Mochis, and the people are as excited as I am for this event,” Nunez said.” I think it will be a historic event. I'm sure everyone will be supporting me, and from my hometown, my region, they'll be all watching this fight.
“We know that Mexico vs Puerto Rico is a guaranteed war, and this will not be the exception.”
Diaz, who in 2021 battled Emanuel Navarrete for the better part of 12 rounds before being stopped, spoke in kind: “I had an absolute war with Navarette, and I think you're going to see the same on Saturday night.”
Nunez, 28-1 (27 KOs), lost his lone bout in 2018 and is squarely in his prime at 28 years old. In his previous bout, he won a decision against Masanori Rikiishi, his first victory that went the distance. Diaz, 30-5 (19 KOs), has won four of his past five.
Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, the fight’s promoter, opined that “Sugar Nunez is the future of Mexican boxing.”
