IBF junior lightweight titleholder Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez doesn’t just want to be a world champion and an elite fighter. He wants to be an idol.
He admits, however, that there is a long way to go and knows that Saturday’s fight in Los Mochis in Sinaloa, Mexico, is the next step on a long but exciting journey.
Nunez, 28-1 (27 KOs), won the vacant IBF title with a 12-round decision win over hometown favorite Masanori Rikiishi in Yokahama, Japan in May, and on Saturday he will defend the belt for the first time against Christopher Diaz, 30-5 (19 KOs).
“I know I still have a long way to go; we’re just getting started,” said Nunez. “I’m about to make my first defense. My goal is to be an idol. Thank God, we are world champion. [I want] To maintain it, even become champion in different [weight] categories, and to set a good example for kids, the next generation, and to all people in general.
“I’m grateful that people support me, but we are aware of the commitment we have, and we try to put aside the issue of socializing and all that. At the end of the day, you have to work, and you have to take the commitment seriously.”
Nunez added: “We are working to put on a good show, get a good victory for Mexico, and I can assure you: This will be no exception. A Mexican boxer identifies as a warrior and as an athlete with many dreams and goals and balls; above all, a lot of balls.”
Nunez’s clash with Diaz tops the bill in Los Mochis, while the co-main event will see Pedro Guevara, 43-5-1 (22 KOs), fight Adrian Curiel, 26-6-1 (5 KOs), over 10 rounds at junior bantamweight. Elsewhere on the card, flyweight Yoali Mosqueda, 13-0 (10 KOs), will meet German Valenzuela, 17-7 (12 KOs), over 10 rounds and junior middleweight Hector Beltran Jnr, 3-0 (3 KOs), will take on Moises Martinez-Zumaya, 2-0 (1 KO), over four rounds.
