WEIGHTS, RUNNING ORDER AND FINAL WORDS FOR NAVARRETE VS. NUNEZ
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 28 Feb 2026
Emanuel Navarrete
“We had our setbacks getting here and a lot of it was out of our hands, but we’re here now and it’s great to see all the support to see two Mexican warriors get in the ring.
“There was a lot of speculation after my last fight, but I don’t think I have anything to justify. We can be really confident going into this fight and I want to show to myself that I can go and face these great champions. I feel I have a lot of time left in this sport to fight in great fights, but I want to just show tomorrow night that I have the guts and the heart to face these tough opponents.
“I’ve never liked to rank the fighters that I’ve fought, i always let other popular do that, but I can say without a doubt that Sugar is in the top five that I’ve faced, and because of that, this is a very important challenge for me.
“I’m not blind, we’ll see on the night who has the most power. From the moment you board the train as a professional, you have the answer of what you are willing to do to win, and everything I’m willing to do to become a World champion and to be unified has never changed.
“We both have power, so I think that physical condition is key. Whomever can endure the most will win, and that physical condition will determine that.
“I always want the knockout in all my fights but if it’s not possible then I take my time, I’ve learned that. I know I won’t hurt him with one punch, but I can destabilize him and go from there.
“It’s always a pleasure to fight for my country. For my origins and representing my country, my flag, with a fighter like him. I believe it’s going to be an excellent fight. I’ve worked so hard so I can deliver the best fight of my career.”
Sugar Nunez
“He’s a fighter that’s very difficult to decipher. it’s a lot of pressure. What attracts me to this fight is that I like challenges. I know that this fight is important for my development to keep moving.
“He has many knockouts and his rivals say he’s heavy handed. I think everyone has their own qualities. The truth is it’s a great challenge in front of me, he’s a great fighter, but I’m happy for this challenge. As a fighter and as a person, there’s a lot of respect there.
“I’m sure it’s going to be a war. He will arrive prepared and we will do our jobs, and then God will decide.
“I think this victory will be very important to both of us. He is well known in Mexico, and I’m molding my path now, so this is very big. We all have a winning mentality and are willing to do what is needed to win. I have a winning mentality, I see myself winning this fight.
“I could never have imagined that I would be facing an opponent like Navarrete in the future, it’s an honor and I’m delighted to be here, and ready to take advantage of it.
“It’s a very difficult style to face but we have looked to copy it in sparring, so we’re confident in our preparation. We love the challenge and you know it’s a guaranteed war.
“He’s been a champion for a long time, but I want to go in and write my own history.”
Eddie Hearn
“This is what boxing is all about. The best v the best, two champions in Sugar Nunez and Emanuel Navarrete face off in here on Saturday night, live on the zone around the world in front of 12,000 fans in here for what will be an incredible atmosphere.
“This fight as I said, exactly what boxing needs the IBF champion and the WBO champion, and we thank the WBO and IBF for making this fight and of course, our partners in this show, Top Rank, as it takes everybody coming together to make great fights like this.
“But in great fights like this, there's always drama. When we arrived in Arizona yesterday, Emanuel Navarrete said he was very chilled. He was at the Mexican embassy at Mexico City, just rocked up there to get his visa and no one could find his passport. So overnight, we're having a nice little panic about myself and the fine folk at Top Rank.
“And he went this morning, nice and chilled and on weight, and he's currently on a private jet here, slightly delayed but as far as he's concerned, he's ready for the fight of his life. They will be facing off here in around an hour, and we have three incredible 50/50 fights on the undercard and some of the finest young talents in the game.”
Emiliano Vargas
“Quintana is a hell of a fighter. Throughout this whole process of winning Prospect of the Year, being at the Super Bowl; I know that didn't matter to him. After winning the prospect of the year, I ran ten miles because I pictured him running five. Prior to the Super Bowl, I did 12 rounds, three different guys.
So I'm ready to go. I pictured him, every night. I know at the end of the day, he's ready. He's ready for the challenge and so am I.
“I’ve got to show everybody what I'm about. This fight is going to do that. Quintana is a great fighter. He's caused upsets but I'm ready to go. I’ve crossed every check in my box. And now it's fight week, I'm ready to make weight and ready to shine on Saturday night.
“The energy here in Glendale, Arizona has been amazing. Even when I fought at 3pm here in the prelims before, they would come out and I would feel the energy. Now, later in the night and I just can't wait to shine in front of everybody.
“I've seen what it is to be a great fighter. And it's been in front of me, has been in my father. I stand on the shoulders of my mother and father. Without them, I wouldn't be here. I understand at the end of the day, if I want to be great, I have to outwork the regular guy in the boxing gym because the microscope is already on me from the get, from the debut.
“If I'm gonna do anything, I'm gonna do it 120 per cent. I know that is the only way I operate. If I'm locked in on something, that's it. I prepare myself 120 per cent. I can't wait. This is the beginning of the Emiliano Vargas era, and I want it all. I want the titles, but at the end of the day, if I don't get past Quintana, then I don't get to any of that. I thought about them through the whole process. I understood that I had to go to work.”
Agustin Quintana
“Firstly, I want to say thanks to God for giving me one of these other opportunities that I get, and for taking me to these places. It's an honor to be here and a real dream of mine. I've been really enjoying the week so far, and I will continue to enjoy what's left of it and go on to have a special night on Saturday.”
Tahmir Smalls
“I just want to thank God for the opportunity and thank you guys for the opportunity, now I'm ready to set off fireworks come Saturday. I know who I got in front of me. I haven’t slacked off one bit in this camp. I'm ready to get it on.
I'm 100 per cent ready. I wouldn't have taken the fight if I didn't believe I was ready, I wouldn't have took the fight in his backyard. I just know I crossed every T and dotted every I in this camp, and I'm ready to set fireworks off.”
Abel Ramos
“I want to thank God for allowing me to be here and good health and blessed to be back in my hometown of Arizona after nine years of not fighting here. It is going to be amazing. This fight card is is going to be fire and I'm excited to be here.
“We know what we have in front of us, it is going to be a tough fight. But we trained well for for that. And, I'm going to use my experience as an advantage and my hometown, of course.”
Arturo Cardenas
“I'm coming into this fight ready and prepared. As you say, we never take a step back in terms of accepting fights. I'm here once again, boxing in Arizona, it's my third time here and I'm very grateful to be here, and I'm ready to put on a great show once again.”
Jordan Martinez
“Let's go. That's all. I'm ready for this. This is the opportunity I've been waiting for. And I am ready to show everybody what I could do in the ring.”
OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER:
Doors open 3pm, first bell 3.30pm (all times local)
Non-broadcast prelim bouts
4 x 3 mins Welterweight contest
RAHMAN MUHAMMAD, Las Vegas, Nevada (147.4lbs) vs. MITCHELL MCFADDEN, Atlanta, Georgia (146.4lbs)
Followed by
6 x 3 mins Jr Middleweight contest
HECTOR BELTRAN JR., Dallas, Texas (154.8lbs) vs. CESAR DIAZ Lima, Peru (155.2lbs)
Followed by
6 x 3 mins Super-Bantamweight contest
PHILLIP VELLA, Henderson, Nevada (119.8lbs) vs. BRAYAN RAMOS, Sonora, Mexico (117.8lbs)
Followed by
8 x 3 mins Super-Lightweight contest
TRINI OCHOA, Phoenix, Arizona (142.8lbs) vs. OSCAR ALVAREZ, Sonora, Mexico (143lbs)
LIVE ON DAZN FROM 6PM
10 x 3 mins WBC Continental Americas Super-Bantamweight title
ARTURO CARDENAS, Michoacán, Mexico (122lbs) vs. JORDAN MARTINEZ, Phoenix, Arizona (121.8lbs)
Followed by
10 x 3 mins WBA Continental North America title
TAHMIR SMALLS, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (147lbs) vs. ABEL RAMOS, Casa Grande, Arizona (146.2lbs)
Followed by
10 x 3 mins WBO Latino and NABF Jr. Lightweight titles
EMILIANO VARGAS, Oxnard, California (139.8lbs) vs. AGUSTIN QUINTANA, Buenos Aires, Argentina (139.6lbs)
Followed by
12 x 3 mins WBO and IBF Jr. Lightweight World title unification
EMANUEL NAVARRETE, San Juan Zitlaltepec, Mexico (129.2lbs) vs. EDUARDO NUNEZ, Sinaloa, Mexico (129.8lbs)
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