Promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed that visa delays and a pending payment for a private jet sitting on a Mexican runway threatened to jeopardize the IBF and WBO super featherweight unification title fight between Emanuel Navarrete and Eduardo Nunez.
The two Mexican world champions meet at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, tomorrow night, courtesy of Hearn’s Matchroom, aired live on DAZN.
In an exclusive interview with Boxing Social, Hearn discussed the tense moments that could have added an extra layer of drama at the end of a chaotic week for his company.
“We are dealing with Top Rank, who were getting Navarrete’s visa,” Hearn said in a video call. “He was supposed to get it yesterday to fly last night, and he ended up getting it this morning. He wasn’t going to get here for the presser, so we ended up getting him a private jet!
“Then we were waiting for the payment to go through with the jet on the tarmac… Anyway, he’s on his way and he’ll be here for the press conference tonight. So all is good, but it’s just the normal world of boxing. No big deal.”
Nunez (29-1, 27 KOs) secured the vacant IBF belt under the guidance of the British promoter with a unanimous decision victory against Masanori Rikiishi on away territory in Yokohama, Japan, last May. The 28-year-old followed up with a successful defense against Christopher Diaz-Velz, claiming a comfortable unanimous decision win six months later for his homecoming in Los Mochis.
Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) continues a period of controversy following a no contest against Charly Suarez in San Diego last May. The fight started at a high pace, with Navarrete pulling ahead after five rounds. However, at the start of the sixth, Suarez caught him with a right hand that opened a deep cut over the right eye. The fight continued to the start of the eighth but was stopped due to the doctor’s advice. The bout went to the scorecards for a technical decision, with Navarrete initially having his hand raised. The result was ultimately changed upon review. The three-weight world champion now makes the sixth defense of his WBO belt.
“Two Mexican champions in front of ten thousand in Phoenix, it’s going to be absolutely wild!” Hearn continued. “Please tune into this fight because I’m going to give you what’s great about boxing. That’s focus for us… My heart will be on my sleeve watching our guy, Sugar Nunez, in his attempt to unify the division in a historic Mexican battle on Saturday.”