Eduardo Nunez Captures IBF World Super Featherweight Title
In an exhilarating matchup held in Yokohama, Japan, on Wednesday, Eduardo Nunez emerged victorious over Masanori Rikiishi to capture the vacant IBF world super featherweight title. The bout took place at the Buntai arena, with Nunez’s promoter from Matchroom, Eddie Hearn, heralding the fighter’s victory as the dawn of a new star for Mexican boxing.
Match Analysis
While Nunez’s impressive knockout record, boasting 27 KOs out of 28 wins, suggested a potentially quick fight, Rikiishi proved to be a formidable opponent, showcasing his experience by having previously faced tough contenders. Sporting a southpaw stance, Rikiishi initially leveraged his height advantage over Nunez and landed several effective counters, including a powerful jab that tested Nunez’s chin.
Throughout the twelve rounds, both fighters engaged in a strategy-laden exchange. Nunez executed solid jabs and coupled them with relentless body shots, struggling against Rikiishi’s technical prowess. However, Nunez quickly adapted, unleashing a flurry of punches, including a stunning right hook that notably shook Rikiishi in the second round. The intensity escalated as the fighters neared the midpoint of the match, with Nunez increasingly pressuring Rikiishi against the ropes.
The ninth round brought a pivotal moment when Nunez once again wobbled Rikiishi, further complicating matters for the home favorite. In the end, the judges awarded Nunez a unanimous decision, with the scorecards reflecting a clear victory at 117-111, 116-112, and 115-113.
A New Champion in Super Featherweight
With this win, Nunez joins the ranks of other champions in the super featherweight class, including Lamont Roach, Emanuel Navarrete, and O’Shaquie Foster.
Additionally, the card hosted by promoter Hideyuki Ohashi saw Yoshoki Takei improve to an impressive 11-0 with a first-round technical knockout victory over Yuttapong Tongdee, securing the WBO world bantamweight title. In another notable fight, Tsubasa Narai claimed victory against Yuna Hara in the eighth round for Japan’s super featherweight championship.
