THE TOP FIVE: WHY EMANUEL NAVARRETE CONSIDERS "SUGAR" NúñEZ HIS MOST DANGEROUS THREAT YET
Unification is here: Discover why Emanuel Navarrete respects Eduardo "Sugar" Nunez and how to watch the Glendale title war live.
Emanuel Navarrete didn’t hold back this week. He made it clear that Eduardo “Sugar” Núñez isn’t just another unification opponent. With their WBO-IBF super featherweight title fight coming up Saturday night, Navarrete put Núñez in his personal top five toughest opponents. That’s a big compliment, especially from a guy who’s seen pretty much everything in the ring.
During Matchroom’s “Cards on the Table", Navarrete looked Núñez in the eye and said, “Of the five toughest opponents I’ve faced, without a doubt I consider you among them.” For a three-division champ, words like that feel loaded. Maybe he’s playing mind games. Or maybe he just respects what Núñez brings. Either way, it stands out, especially since people have been questioning Navarrete’s recent performances.
Núñez’s record looks scary: 29 wins, just one loss, and 27 knockouts. But if you look closer, things get complicated. He beat Christopher Díaz in Mexico, but that fight dragged into a twelve-round decision. Núñez couldn’t finish strong; his power faded late, and a lot of folks thought Díaz deserved a closer scorecard.
Even so, Eddie Hearn has been hyping up Núñez all week, framing him as the fresher, sharper champion in this matchup.
Meanwhile, Navarrete comes in with some baggage. His last fight against Charly Suarez got messy. The ref gave Navarrete a technical decision win, but then video replay showed Suarez caused a nasty cut with a left hook, not a head clash. The result switched to a no-contest, and the California commission ordered a rematch that never happened. That whole episode left a bad taste, and it exposed some holes in Navarrete’s defence. Now, people wonder if he can handle a disciplined, hard-hitting counter-puncher like Núñez.
Fighting in Glendale, Arizona, adds its own twist. The Mexican fan base always shows up big here, but with both guys hailing from Mexico, there’s no clear home advantage. This time, it’s all about national pride and those belts. The stakes go way beyond just the physical fight; there’s an emotional edge, too.
When two Mexican fighters square off, there’s this silent expectation: give the fans a war. Nobody wants to be the guy playing it safe or backing up all night, not with that crowd watching. It usually means both men take risks they wouldn’t take against anyone else.
Navarrete’s got the legacy, the belts, and the experience. Núñez is the hungry IBF champ looking to make his mark. In Mexican boxing, these moments when one star tries to take the torch from another tend to become legends. Just think Barrera vs. Morales. That’s the kind of fight on the table here, and both guys know what’s at stake.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: DECODING MANNY PACQUIAO’S 11-YEAR PLAN TO AVENGE HIS 2015 CAREER LOSS
Is the 50-0 streak over? Analyse Pacquiao’s recent form, Mayweather’s return, and the high-tech battle at The Sphere.
On September 19, 2026, Floyd Mayweather, now 49, and Manny Pacquiao, 47, will finally face off again. It’s been 11 years since their first fight, and this time they’re stepping into the ring at The Sphere in Las Vegas. Netflix will stream the event live, making it one of the most anticipated comebacks in recent boxing history.
Back in May 2015, Mayweather walked away from “The Fight of the Century” with a unanimous decision win. Since then, he’s only had one big match, a 2017 win over UFC’s Conor McGregor. Pacquiao, on the other hand, fought most recently in 2025. He went toe-to-toe with Mario Barrios, the WBC World Welterweight champ, and managed a draw. People were amazed to see Pacquiao, at 46, still holding his own.
Now, Pacquiao’s got unfinished business. He’s fired up to rewrite the story in this rematch.
When ESPN’s SportsCenter asked Pacquiao why now, he didn’t hesitate. “I’m still active in boxing, and then he came out of retirement, so he decided to do it again. I’m so excited for the fight.”
Mayweather has an exhibition lined up against Mike Tyson in spring 2026. Pacquiao is fighting Ruslan Provodnikov in April, also an exhibition. But when it comes to Mayweather, Pacquiao’s not interested in another exhibition match. “I don’t want to fight in an exhibition with him. I want to fight a real fight. This is what I’m waiting for.”
Pacquiao’s not making excuses this time around. After the first fight, he talked about a shoulder injury, but that’s in the past. “I learned a lot from that fight way back in 2015. I think we’ve both matured. We know how to handle it now. I hope it won’t be like last time. I want no more excuses, especially about my condition. I’m so excited and ready to fight.”
Even at 47, Pacquiao feels sharp. “Both of us are disciplined fighters. We take care of our bodies. I work out almost every day. Honestly, I still feel young. Nothing’s changed.”
REMATCH CONFIRMED: MAYWEATHER VS. PACQUIAO 2 OFFICIALLY SET FOR SEPTEMBER 19 ON NETFLIX
It's official: Discover why Mayweather and Pacquiao are returning to pro boxing for a massive Netflix rematch at The Sphere.
Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are getting ready to do it all over again.
First up, Mayweather steps back into the ring for an exhibition against Mike Tyson in April. But that’s just the warm-up. After Tyson, Mayweather says he’s heading back to pro boxing, and it looks like a rematch with Pacquiao is locked in for the fall, this time at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
Boxing insider Mike Coppinger broke the news, and the Inside the Ring Show posted about it on X. Both Mayweather and Pacquiao have exhibition fights this spring, but the real show happens in September.
Then Netflix jumped in and confirmed it: Mayweather vs. Pacquiao 2 goes down September 19 at the Sphere, and you can only watch it live on Netflix. That’s a first for professional boxing at this venue and a huge deal for fans everywhere.
Mayweather and Pacquiao last faced off back in May 2015. It was supposed to be the fight of the decade, but a lot of fans felt it happened too late. In the end, Mayweather won by decision, but the fight itself didn’t quite live up to the hype.
Pacquiao isn’t waiting around, either. He’s making his own return on April 18 against Ruslan Provodnikov in a 10-round welterweight exhibition in Vegas.
By the time these two legends meet again, Mayweather will be 49 and Pacquiao 47. Age doesn’t seem to be slowing them down one bit.
Mayweather hasn’t fought as a pro since beating Conor McGregor in August 2017. He’s done a handful of exhibitions since then, but he says he’s still got what it takes for the big stage.
“I still have what it takes to set more records in the sport of boxing,” Mayweather said. “From my upcoming Mike Tyson event to my next professional fight afterwards, no one will generate a bigger gate, have a larger global broadcast audience, or generate more money with each event than my events.”
Mayweather stands at 50-0, one of the greatest to ever do it. Pacquiao’s a legend in his own right.
So, are you tuning in for Mayweather vs. Pacquiao 2? Drop your thoughts in the comments, PENN Nation!
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