Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Nunez Bides Time As Mandatory Challenger, Faces Miguel Marriaga on Aug. 31 DAZN Show

Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez will bide his time as he awaits his first title shot.

The red-hot junior lightweight knockout artist is a late addition to the already announced Aug. 31 DAZN show. Mexico’s Nunez will face Colombia’s Miguel Marriaga in the chief support to the Diego Pacheco-Maciej Sulecki super middleweight bout.

Both bouts will air live from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

Nunez (27-1, 27 knockouts), No. 10 at 130 by The Ring, is the current IBF mandatory challenger. Reigning titlist Anthony Cacace (22-1, 8 KOs), No. 5 at 130, was ordered to face Nunez. No deal was reached, and a purse bid hearing was called.

However, it was since decided that Belfast’s Cacace will instead face former titlist Josh Warrington. Their all-UK clash takes place on Sept. 21 at Wembley Stadium in London.

Presumably, Nunez would land a shot at the winner. He earned the opportunity in an eleventh-round knockout of former titlist Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov (17-2-1, 14 KOs). Their Feb. 16 IBF title eliminator took place in Rakhimov’s homeland of Uzbekistan, Nunez’s first career fight away from Mexico.

He now gets the chance to fight in the U.S. for the first time as he attempts to extend his 17-fight knockout streak.

“I am happy and motivated by our commitment at the door, against the former [three-time title challenger],” said Nunez. “Adding that we will make our debut in the United States. I know he is a strong fighter with a lot of experience but that motivates me even more to arrive in the best condition.

“We will be ready to go out with our hands raised on August 31.”

Marriaga (31-7, 26 KOs) came up short in title bids versus Nicholas Walters, Oscar Valdez and Vasiliy Lomachenko. There is no shame in defeats against anyone from that trio.

However, the 37-year-old Colombian has stumbled into journeyman status with just two wins in the past five years. It hasn’t dulled his enthusiasm, however, to dash Nunez’s title hopes.

“This is a huge opportunity for me to put myself back into position amongst the elite of the division,” said Marriaga. “Sugar is a very good and strong fighter, but I feel great, and I am going to give it everything I have come August 31.”

Also making his U.S. debut is England’s Cheavon Clarke (9-0, 7 KOs). The 2020 Great Britain Olympian faces Efotober Apochi (12-2, 12 KOs) in a ten-round cruiserweight contest.

Additional bouts as previously reported by The Ring:

Interim WBC flyweight titlist Adelaida Ruiz (16-0-1, 8 KOs) defends versus 2020 U.S. Olympian Ginny Fuchs (3-0, 3 KOs)

Arturo Cardenas (14-0-1, 8 KOs) faces Jesus Arechiga (21-1, 15 KOs) in a scheduled ten-round junior featherweight outing.

Follow @JakeNDaBox