By Norm Frauenheim

GLENDALE, Ariz. –The blood poured into a right eye. A swelling bruise began to close the left eye. Only the end was easy to see.

Emanuel Navarrete’s punches, long and deadly, bloodied, bruised and busted-up Eduardo Nunez, forcing the ring physician to call an end to the carnage in the first second of the eleventh round Saturday night at Desert Diamond Arena.

Navarrete’s victory proved to be a definitive answer to a growing chorus of critics who believed that the three-division champ was in a steep decline. He’s not. Instead, he’s a unified junior welterweight champion. He took Nunez’ International belt and added it to his World Boxing Organization title.

“I feel like I got back to what it is to be a Mexican warrior,” he said to a roaring crowd after his fourth appearance in the state since 2023.

The only way back to his warrior roots, however, was through a determined challenge from another resilient Mexican. Nunez (29-2, 27 KOs) was a slight favorite. And there were moments when it looked as if he might prevail.

“I want to be champion again,” he said after hugging Navarrete in the center of the ring. “I will continue to learn. 

Nunez’ right eye was cut in the fourth round. From the fifth through about the eighth, however, his power and evident discipline forced Navarrete to retreat.

But his corner stopped the bleeding after the round.  The blood was gone, suddenly and seemingly replaced by a sharper Nunez. He began to find his range. He landed a solid body-to-head combination that backed Navarrete into the ropes. 

The double shot, perfectly executed, seemed to surprise Navarrete, whose loosey-goosey style managed to confuse Nunez over the first two to three rounds. But the combo interrupted Navarrete’s momentum. He hesitated just enough for Nunez to get back into the fight.

Nunez’ power was finding avenues under Navarrete’s long, spaghetti-like arms. First, he targeted Navarrete’s body. Then his head, Navarrete went into reverse. He marched forward in the opening round. He retreated in the seventh. Increasingly, the relentless Ninez was there, his head and face in Navarrete’s chest. In the eighth, Nunez backed  him into the ropes and followed with a succession of head shots that landed with an echo that could be heard above the roar from the crowd. 

In the ninth, the blood started flowing again. A rapid swelling, the color of a purple grape, appeared around the left. Only the end was left.  

Emiliano Vargas prevails in punishing fight

There’s more to Emiliano Vargas than just a pretty face. There’s a mean streak too.He displayed it Saturday in a contentious, bruising stoppage of Augustine Quintana Saturday In a junior-welterweight fight that was a good measure of the young prospect’s chances of fulfilling his potential at Desert Diamond Arena.

“I want to become a world champion in my next fight,” the 21-year-old Vargas said after forcing Quintana’s corner to end it after the ninth round.

In the early rounds, it looked as if Vargas would win easily. In the fifth, however, Quintana (22-3-1, 13 KOs)  suddenly got aggressive. He marched forward, pursuing Vargas and throwing punches at a wild rate and in every direction. One landed low. Then, another. Vargas was in evident pain. The referee called time and warned Quintana.

For a few seconds, Vargas walked it off. The warning, however, changed the fight. It got nasty, borderline ugly. Quintana continued to throw punches, some that repeatedly seemed to land just at or below the beltline. But Vargas didn’t back away. 

Instead, he stood and exchanged shots that echoed throughout the old ice hockey arena. In the eighth, Quintana slipped onto his hands and knees. Vargas looked at him. Actually, he glared and gestured at the Argentine, urging him to get up. No interpretation necessary. Vargas wanted to administer some more punishment. 

He did with punches that forced another timeout  Quintana was sent to his corner where the ringside physician was waiting. The  good doctor took a look at his busted-up face and determined the fight could continue. Nobody was happier about that than Vargas.  A round later, it was over, despite angry protests from the busted-up Quintana.

Abel Ramos storms back, scores decision over Smalls

Now we know why Mario Barrios wouldn’t fight Abel Ramos again.

Ramos, fighting for the first time since a controversial draw with Barrios for the WBC welterweight title more than a year ago, displayed great conditioning, unleashing another furious rally for a victory over prospect Tahmir Smalls at Desert Diamond Arena.

It was close, but this time the judges got it right, giving Ramos (29-6-3, 22 KOs) a split decision– 98-92  and 97-93 for Ramos, 96-94 for Smalls.

Ramos and the crowd — populated by many fans from hometown Casa Grande about an hour drive from Glendale — celebrated as though they had been waiting for fate and fairness to finally favor Ramos.

For months, he waited and wondered, praying and hoping for a rematch with Barrios. 

“It’s been awhile since I last fought,” he told The Boxing Hour before opening bell.  “I thought I’d get the rematch. There were. a couple times I thought it was done. They kept saying yeah. But then he got the Manny Pacquiao fight. That’s when I knew I’d have to fight somebody else. No regrets. 

“I’m just happy to be here, fighting again. 

“I just love to fight.”

For the last six rounds, that was evident, painfully so for Smalls (16-1 11 KOs). First, there were body shots from  Ramos. Then, head shots. In the final round, Smalls slipped to the canvas, a picture of exhaustion..

“It’s exactly how I thought it would go,” said Ramos, who resurrected his future. “I hope this win will give me another title shot. I want Ryan Garcia, all of the champions.” 

Martinez, Cardenas fight to a draw

Jordan Martinez didn’t get the win. But he got the cheers and probably a rematch.

Martinez, an entertaining mix of energy and speed, wound up with a draw in front of hometown fans Saturday against favored Arturo Cardenas in the first fight of the DAZN live stream of the Emanuel Navarrete-Eduardo Nunez fight at Desert Diamond Arena.

Martinez (16-0-1, 15 KOs) appeared to grab the early momentum in the junior-featherweight fight. He danced into the ring and kept his feet moving throughout most of the early rounds. By the mid rounds, however, Cardenas (17-0-2, 9KOs) began to catch with solid shots. It was enough for him to also catch him on the cards — 98-92 for Martinez, 96-94 for Cardenas and 95-95. It was a split draw. A split audience, too..

“Most of his shots were hitting me on the gloves,” Cardenas, of Mexico, said.

The, crowd booed,

“We can run it back for sure and I’ll come back better,” said Martinez, a Phoenix fighter who wore the city’s logo on the back of his trunks.

Mesa junior welterweight Ochoa suffers first loss

Mexican Oscar Alvarez Guerrero brought Julio Cesar Chavez out of his broadcasting seat and onto his feet with a resilient burst of late energy that led to an upset decision over Trini Ochoa, a popular junior welterweight from Mesa, Saturday at Desert Diamond Arena.

The early moments in the eight-round fight appeared to belong to Ochoa, who delivered an effective body attack. But the lanky Guerrero (15-2, 12 KOs) endured the shots, recovered and then began to dominate, especially in the final couple of rounds. That’s when Guerrero mounted a relentless attack, backing Ochoa (21-1, 9 KOs) on to the ropes and into the loss column for the first time.

Bantamweight Velle stays unbeaten with dominant decision

Phillip Velle, an accomplished amateur, continued to add a prospect’s credibility to his resume Saturday, displaying a comprehensive skill set in a dominant decision over Brayan Ramos at Desert Diamond Arena.

Velle (5-0, 2 KOs), landed several well-executed counters throughout a sxi-round bantamweight fight. He staggered Ramos (8-8-1, 2 KOs), a resilient Mexican who managed to stay on his feet and in the fight. 

Prospect Beltran extends unbeaten record

Hector Beltran calls himself Handsome. The nickname still works. His face and record remains unmarked.

Beltran, a Robert Garcia-trained prospect, stayed unbeaten with a shutout decision over a game Cesar Diaz in the second fight on the Navarrete-Nunez featured card Saturday at Desert Diamond Arena.

Beltran (7-0, 5 KOs), of Dallas, took complete control of the welterweight bout in fourth, landing successive shots that rocked Diaz (10-2, 6 KOs) from one side of the ring to the next. 

First Bell: Navarrete-Nunez card opens with quick KO

Las Vegas welterweight Rahman Muhammad turned a scheduled matinee into a short feature Saturday at Desert Diamond Arena

Muhammad (3-0, 2 KOs) wasted little time, opening the show with second-round stoppage of Mitchell McFadden, (1-1), of Atlanta, on a Matchroom card featuring the Emanuel Navarrete-Eduardo Nunez fight for two pieces of the junior-lightweight title

By Norm Frauenheim

GLENDALE, Ariz. – For a while, the only thing separating Emanuel Navarrete and Eduardo Nunez was a valid passport. Now, even that’s gone.

Navarrete and Nunez stood face-to-face, seemingly even for perhaps the most intriguing fight in a new year Friday, just a day after Navarrete resolved issues over a lost passport and boarded a private jet in Mexico City for a flight to Arizona.

He landed, his papers and weight all in order. As he stepped off the scale, he looked relieved. Finally, he was where he was supposed to be. Finally, there were no issues about the weight. He safely came in under the junior-lightweight limit of 130 pounds.

In a staged weigh-in after the official one behind closed doors Friday morning at Desert Diamond Arena, he was at 129.2 and Nunez at 129.8.

Over the last few years, the 31-year-old Navarrete (39-2-1-1, 32 KOs) has often struggled to make weight. But this time, more than a passport was lost.

Pounds were, too, enough for him to stay in the hunt to keep his World Boxing Organization belt and to take Nunez’ International Boxing Federation title Saturday night at Desert Diamond in a DAZN-streamed bout.

“Obviously, we had our setbacks, all out of our hands,’’ Navarrete said through an interpreter. “But, finally, we’re here.’’

Navarrete sounded confident. The three-division champion is no stranger to Arizona where he’s already fought three times since 2023.

“This is a lot like my second home,’’ Navarrete said.

He’s been lucky in Maricopa County. He escaped with a victory over Australian Liam Wilson, scoring a stoppage after getting up from a controversial knockdown. He’s also been dominant, punishing Oscar Valdez, first at Desert Diamond and again at the Suns home arena in downtown Phoenix.

He knows the city. It knows him. But a boxing ring never includes any of the comforts of home. It’s full of danger and shifting allegiances, both of which are personified in the emerging face of Nunez.

Navarrete has the resume and an awkward style, a puzzle to most who have tried to solve it.

But Nunez has the momentum, which includes an astonishing knockout rate. He’s not perfect, but he’s close. He’s stopping opponents at a 93.1-percent clip.

Twenty-nine victories in 30 fights, 27 by stoppage. It comes with no surprise, perhaps, that his only loss came on the scorecards early in his career. Nunez’ power has dictated what he does. Who he is.

“Navarrete has been a champion for a long, long time,’’ Nunez said, also through an interpreter. “But I feel like it’s my time to write my own destiny.’’

Nunez woke up Friday as the favorite. The betting odds have been close since the fight was announced. Throughout, however, Nunez has been the bettors’ slight favorite, a sign perhaps that the fighter from Sinaloa has captured the imagination of Mexican fans.

For now, at least, Nunez is a name. Few American fans have seen him fight. In August 2024, he beat Miguel Marriaga in Carson, Calif. Last May, he traveled to Japan, scoring a unanimous decision over Masanori Rikiishi for a vacant IBF title in Yokohama. Twice, his passport has been punched with some noteworthy credibility.

But none would be more powerful than a victory over Navarrete, whose name has been near the top of Mexico’s boxing royalty for many years.

A victory over Navarrete would be a sure sign that he has arrived, especially among Mexicans, boxing’s biggest and loudest demographic. It’s no coincidence that promoters, Matchroom and Top Rank, have dubbed the fight “King of Mexico.”

Canelo Alvarez, who still plans a post-Terence Crawford comeback in September, might argue with that one. For one night, however, the marketing title works.

The 27-year Nunez has youth and evident energy. Against a Navarrete, he might need a lot of both. Navarrete’s edgy victories over Valdez suggest he’s at his best against fellow Mexicans. Valdez is popular in Arizona, in part because he has roots in Tucson. But Navarrete walked through him. From round to round, it looked as if he was energized by a partisan crowd. Those Valdez fans might be his fans now.

Nunez figures to encounter that version of Navarrete, who is also motivated by talk that he is not the fighter he was five years ago. In his last fight, he escaped against Charly Suarez. It ended in controversy over whether a punch or a head butt left Navarrete with a nasty cut. Eventually, it was ruled a No Contest. Navarette kept his belt, but couldn’t shed the questions.

“Some of the criticism was unfair,’’ said Navarrete, who has never had a better chance to prove just how unfair.   

Mexican Super-Featherweight talent Eduardo Nunez has signed a long-term promotional deal with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom.   Nunez (24-1 24 KOs) has dispatched all of his victims inside the distance to date, and the hard-hitting 26 year old is banging on the door of the World champions sitting in the top five in the IBF rankings where his new stablemate Joe Cordina regained the title in Cardiff in April in an epic battle with Shavkat Rakhimov, and #8 in the WBO, a belt held by his fellow countryman Emanuel Navarrete.   ‘Sugar’s’ last outing saw him destroy the unbeaten Jesus Martin Ceyca inside two rounds in Culiacan, Mexico, in March and with Hearn and Matchroom announcing a three-year extension to their DAZN deal in America and Mexico, Nunez can expect to land massive fights on home soil to close in on a World title shot and his return to the ring will be announced soon.   “I’m very excited for this new episode in my career,” said Nunez. “I won’t take it for granted, it is extra motivation, I know I’m very close on fulfilling my dream of being a World Champion and I will do it alongside the great team I have and our new members Eddie Hearn and Matchroom.”   “I am delighted to welcome another exciting new signing in Eduardo to the team,” said Hearn. “Eduardo is a huge dangerman in the Super-Featherweight division and very well placed to challenge for a title this year. He always fights with bad intentions and that makes him a must-watch fighter, and that’s what our Mexico shows are all about – thrilling action from top to bottom – and Eduardo will be a key part of our future there.   “Having announced two massive signings on Saturday in WBC 140lb king Regis Prograis and Cuban amateur sensation Andy Cruz during the Canelo-Ryder show in Guadalajara, Eduardo joins them in bolstering the best stable in World boxing. ‘Sugar’ signs hot on the heels of our DAZN extension in the US and Mexico, a deal that enables us to work with these great fighters and put on the best events for DAZN subscribers.”

Angel Fierro stopped Eduardo Estela in round seven of their scheduled 10-round lightweight bout in Culiacan, Mexico

In round two, Fierro was deducted a point. In round four, Fierro dropped Estela with a hard right hand. At the end of the round, Fierro dropped Estela again with another right that rolled Estela under the bottom rope.

In round seven, Fierro landed a big flurry that was finished up by a couple of hard left hooks that put Estela down and out at 2:59

Fierro, 134 lbs of Tijuana, MEX is 21-1-2 with 17 knockouts. Estela, 134.2 lbs of Montevideo, URU is 14-2.

Eduardo Nunez scored a vicious second round stoppage over Martin Ceyca in a 10-round super featherweight bout.

In round two, Nunez landed a booming right hand that drilled the jaw of Ceyca and put him flat on his back and the fight was over at 2:14.

Nunez, 130.6 lbs of Los Mochis, MEX is 24-1 with all 24 by knockout. Ceyca, 128.8 lbs of Culiacan, MEX is 17-1.

Misael Lopez remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision over Aaron Guerrero in a middleweight fight.

Rodriguez, 162.6 lbs of Chihuahua, MEX won by scores of 78-76 and 77-76 twice and is now 13-0. Guerrero, 161.2 lbs of Culiacan, MEX is 16-2-1.

Francisco Pina won an eight-round unanimous decision over Alejandro Young in a battle of undefeated featherweights.

Pina, 125.8 lbs of Mexico City won by scores of 78-75, 77-75 and 77-76 and is now 6-0. Young, 127.2 lbs of Los Mochis, MX is 9-1.

Criztec Bazaldua made a successful pro debut with a four-round unanimous decision over Jose Bustamante in a lightweight contest.

Bazaldua, 136.4 lbs of Los Angeles won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is 1-0. Bustamante, 135.4 lbs of Mexico City is 1-1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wegSqU7jbMk

This Friday, April 1, 2022, Fight Hub TV, in association with boxing’s best, up-and-coming digital platform, Fightstars, will proudly present High-Impact Boxing (Boxeo de Alto Impacto) a four-fight night of world-class boxing, streamed live, at no charge, from Jalisco, Mexico.

TO WATCH HIGH-IMPACT BOXING (4:17 PM EST/7:17 PM PST) PRESENTED BY FIGHTSTARS FOR FREE ON FIGHT HUB TV, CLICK HERE.

Presented by ‘The New Blood of Boxing in Mexico,’ BXTRS Promotions, in the high-impact 10-round featherweight main event, once-beaten power-punching knockout artist Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez (22-1, 22 KOs) Los Mochis, Sinaloa, will face fellow Mexican Adrian “Gallero” Pacheco (9-4-1, 5 KOs) of Mexico City.

Trained by the well-known Montiel family, in Los Mochis, the promising Nunez will be looking for his 23rd professional KO in as many wins and twelfth consecutive stoppage. The 24-year-old is a seven-year professional who has done all his fighting inside his homeland, thus far.

Also scheduled for the livestream are a pair of junior flyweights in an eight-round duel, as Hector “Rapidito” Flores (19-0-4, 10 KOs) of Tijuana, Baja California will take on Jose “Motorcito” Ramirez (13-8, 7 KOs) of Tlalchapa, Guerrero, Mexico.

Also scheduled is a six-round super featherweight battle between Mexico City’s undefeated Alberto Mora (3-0, 3 KOs) of Mexico City and an opponent TBA.

And to open the broadcast, unbeaten super featherweight Raymundo “Ray” Rojas (6-0, 4 KOs) of Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, will take on Roberto “El Michoacano” Reyes (2-2) of Zitacuaro, Michoacan, over six rounds.

TO WATCH HIGH-IMPACT BOXING (4:17 PM EST/7:17 PM PST) PRESENTED BY FIGHTSTARS FOR FREE ON FIGHT HUB TV, CLICK HERE.

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LAS VEGAS (July 20, 2021) – An explosive match-up between Mexican featherweights Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez (21-1, 21 KOs) and Jonathan “El Fenix” Aguilar will headline the next installment of RJJ Boxing on UFC Fight Pass®, July 29th at Benito Juarez Auditorium in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico.

The action will be streamed live and exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports, starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. To sign-up for UFC FIGHT PASS, please visit www.ufcfightpass.com.

RJJ Boxing on UFC FIGHT PASS is co-promoted by Roy Jones Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions and De La O Promotions.

“This could very well be a coming out party for Eduardo Nunez,” RJJ Boxing CEO/co-founder Keith Veltre said, “who will be tested by Jonathan Aguilar in a battle of knockout artists. Nunez is a terrific puncher who is a rising star in the featherweight division. Another fighter to watch is 19-year-old Jorge Lugo Cota. He has all the tools to be a champion someday and he’s become a popular prospect fighting on our cards.

The 23-year-old Nunez is riding an 11-fight win streak, dating back three years, since he suffered his only pro loss to Adam Valle by way of a 6-round decision. Valle remains the only fighter to go the complete distance with Nunez, a former WBC Youth Silver Featherweight Champion. Nunez is hoping to break through on a larger scale, thanks to the exposure he’ll receive fighting UFC FIGHT Pass, and crack the world ratings this year.

Nunez’ opponent is the 10-round main event, power-punching Aguilar, is a former WBC International bantamweight title challenger. Nunez and Aguilar have 38 knockouts in 41 combined victories. Odds are Nunez vs. Aguilar reach the final bell.

In the co-featured event, super featherweight Jose “Checke Choryboy” Valenzuela (10-3, 4 KOs) takes on an opponent from the same state of Sonora, Jose Luis “Cuate” Vazquez (12-2, 5 KOs), in a rivalry fight. Valenzuela is from Los Mochis, Vazquez from Culiacon.

Cota (4-0, 3 KOs) has the potential to be a bonafide star. He has the proper bloodlines as the latest member of the fighting Montiel family, whose grandfather and uncles captured world titles. “Jorgito,” who had a 140-10 amateur record, will fight in a 6-rounder versus upset-minded Rodrigo Felix (4-4, 2 KOs), who is coming off a win by 6-round decision against previously undefeated prospect Oscar Ortega.

The opening UFC FIGHT PASS match is a 6-round, super bantamweight bout between Nazario Castro (6-2, 3 Kos) and Issac “Yaqui” Buitimea (9-7, 4 KOs).

A pair of unbeaten Las Vegas-based fighters, junior flyweight Yadira Bustillo (3-0, 1 KO) and featherweight Ezquiel Borrero (3-0, 1 KO), respectively, against Dana Fraire (1-0) Miguel Angel Nides (0-1-1) in 4-round matches.

Card subject to change.

INFORMATION:

Websites: http://www.RoyJonesJrBoxing.com, www.ufcfightpass.com

Facebook: /UFCFightPass, /KeithVeltre

Twitter: @UFCFightPass, @Keith_Veltre, @RoyjonesJRfa @RoyJonesJrOfficial

Instagram: @UFCFightPass, @KeithVeltre, @RoyJonesJrBoxing

ABOUT ROY JONES JR, BOXING PROMOTIONS: Co-founded in 2013 by 10-time world champion Roy Jones, Jr. and Keith Veltre, Roy Jones, Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions is on its way to reinventing boxing. RJJ has already made a huge impact in the boxing community in a few short years. Creating exhilarating content for UFC Fight Pass, CBS Sports, Showtime, ESPN and beIN Sports in some of the finest venues across the country, RJJ has proven it is conquering the sweet science of the sport.

Based in the fight capital of the world, Las Vegas, NV, Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions is climbing to the top at a fast pace, adding young talent to its growing stable: NABF super flyweight champion, IBF #8 and WBC # 14 Jade “Hurricane” Bornea (15-0, 10 KOs); two-time world title challenger, bantamweight “Mighty” Aston Palicte (26-4-1, 22 KOs); NABF welterweight champion, WBC #15 and Santiago “Somer” Dominguez (24-0, 18 KOs); former NABA welterweight champion Kendo “Tremendo” Castaneda (17-3, 8 KOs), former Interim World middleweight title challenger John “The Phenom” Vera (20-1, 12 KO), unbeaten super middleweight prospect Juan “Just Business” Barajas (11-0-1, 7 KOs), and former WBC World Youth heavyweight titlist Alexander “The Great” Flores (18-3-1, 16 KOs).

ABOUT UFC FIGHT PASS®: UFC FIGHT PASS® is the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports. Since launching in 2013, UFC FIGHT PASS is now available in more than 200 countries and territories. UFC FIGHT PASS provides its members with unlimited access to live UFC FIGHT PASS Prelims; live mixed martial arts and combat sports from around the world; original series and historical programming; special features; behind-the-scenes content; in-depth interviews; and up-to-the minute reports on the world of combat sports. UFC FIGHT PASS subscribers also have 24/7 access to the world’s largest fight library, featuring more than 20,000 bouts from dozens of combats sports organizations, as well as every fight in UFC history. Fight fans can access UFC FIGHT PASS on personal computers, iOS and Android mobile devices, Apple TV, Xbox One, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, and Sony TVs with Android TV. For more information, please visit www.ufcfightpass.com.