Navarrete’s AZ arrival for Nunez fight delayed by lost passport

By Norm Frauenheim

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Emanuel Navarrete missed a news conference Thursday for a fight for a unified junior-lightweight title Saturday against emerging fellow-Mexican Eduardo Nunez at Desert Diamond Arena because he lost his passport.

The fight for the World Boxing Organization and International Boxing Federation belts was still on, however. 

During the  undercard portion of a delayed news conference, promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed a story first reported by The Boxing Hour and said  Navarrete was on a private jet from Mexico City to Phoenix.

“”Earlier, he was sitting in an embassy in Mexico City,” Hearn, Nunez’ promoter, said. “Nobody could find his passport.

Hearn had hoped to stage the ritual stare-down between Navarrete and Nunez later in the night. But there was still no sign of Navarrete as the undercard part of the newser ended.

Representatives for Top Rank, Navarrete’s promoter, were confident he was enroute.

“We had some drama this week,” Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti said.

Moretti then thanked Hearn for acquiring a private jet.

“We’re still negotiating that,” Hearn said.

Navarrete is popular in the Phoenix area. His scheduled Saturday fight on DAZN is his third at Desert Diamond and his fourth in Maricopa County since 2023. He beat Oscar Valdez in a rematch in December, 2024 at the Suns home arena in downtown Phoenix in his last Arizona appearance. His drawing power has been evident.

“This fight will happen in front of what will be 12,0000 fans,” Hearn said.