All accounts indicate that the junior lightweight title unification bout and all-Mexico matchup is destined to deliver, and now it must be proven when WBO champion Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) and IBF titleholder Nunez (29-1, 27 KOs) square off at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona live and exclusively on DAZN.

"Vaquero" Navarrete and "Sugar" Nunez are ranked No. 2 and No. 4 by The Ring at 130 pounds, and there is tremendous mutual respect from both sides during the bout's buildup.

It’s a far cry from the riveting rivalry between Hall of Fame Mexican fighters Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales. That featured bad blood, punches thrown at press conferences and three wars between 2000-2004 across three weight divisions.

But admiration will go out the door once Navarrete, 31, and Nunez, 28, go toe-to-toe during their duel.

“If you look at the previous wars between Mexican fighters, they set the bar extremely high,” Nunez told The Ring. “I think there have been some great examples between Mexicans over the years.

“I loved the Barrera-Morales fights. Those were tremendous wars. I’ve not really got a favorite out of the two. I wouldn’t dare to say who’s my favorite, but I really did follow the careers of both. I loved watching them fight.

“But because of our styles, Navarrete’s and mine, and our winning mentalities, I do believe it will be a wonderful Mexican war that people will experience.”

Three-division champion Navarrete is the more seasoned fighter, but comes into their clash with a chip on his shoulder. Navarrete last fought in May and was fortunate to eventually walk away with a No Contest against Charly Suarez. The fight was originally announced as a technical decision win for Navarrete, but it was later overturned when it was ruled that a punch caused the fight-ending cut near Navarrete’s eye, not a headbutt.

Before the Suarez fight, Navarrete knocked out Oscar Valdez in a world title rematch, lost a split decision to Denys Berinchyk on his lightweight debut, and fought to a majority draw with Robson Conceicao despite scoring two knockdowns.

The series of uneven results over the last 27 months has made Navarrete a +155 betting underdog and Nunez a -200 betting favorite, according to DraftKings.

“I want to make a statement to show that I belong on this level and that I am ready for opponents like this,” Navarrete said during a training montage produced by Matchroom, the event's lead promoter.

“It's going to be a fight where I'm not going to give up my title easily. I want people to feel that I'm a champion who can defend a title with full respect to any opponent, that I still have that grit, that heart, and that drive.

“What defines the Mexican fighter is always connecting with the opponent. Where there are two Mexicans in the ring, the minimum you can expect is a war.”

As he prepared for battle, Navarrete, who’s historically looked soft around the middle, dialed up training at his gym in San Juan Zitlaltepec, Mexico.

“I didn't usually do that much conditioning. Maybe some abs, a bit of weight training, things like that. Boxing-wise, I did everything,” said Navarrete. “I believe it's going to be a very strong fight. It’s going to become very tough and complicated. I think whoever arrives better prepared, or has the better camp, is going to get the best result.”

Nunez also switched up training routines and prepared for the first time in Tucson, Arizona, and nearby Mount Lemmon, nearly two hours away from the fight venue.

“I think it was a good move and a strong addition to this preparation,” said Nunez. “We know the fight we have in front of us. We know the sacrifices it requires. We always work hard, and this hasn't been the exception.

“I dream a lot about this fight. I feel something different. This fight motivates me a lot, and I have great confidence in myself and my team. It's going to be a great fight.

“It's a major moment for Mexican boxing. More than anything, it's about showing everything we have and who we truly are. I guarantee it's going to be a great one. God willing, they'll raise my hand. No one is going to stop me.”

Nunez is a knockout machine, but has only blasted second-rate competition at home in Mexico. He stopped every opponent in his first 27 wins, but has gone the distance over his last two fights during his title run to date.

Nunez scored a unanimous decision against Masanori Rikiishi in May in Japan for the vacant IBF title and defended it against Christopher Diaz-Velez in September with another unanimous decision.

Nunez realizes Navarrete is built differently.

“I think there is a lot to prove in this fight,” said Nunez. “We know who we are, but there is a lot to show because we're facing a great opponent, a fighter whose career I personally admire.

“Navarrete is a fighter with a lot of reach. He's big and throws a lot of punches. It's a different style, but we're working to adapt to it, and we're confident it's going to work.

“He's had a long career as a world champion; we're just getting started. I feel a greater sense of responsibility since my reign is just beginning. I only have one defense so far, and I need to prove more. I know we're going to achieve it.”

Navarrete vs. Nunez appears to have all of the makings to be a competitive back-and-forth brawl meriting a rematch, no matter the winner. If the clash is hotly contested, as everyone expects, a sequel to continue the captivating saga could make more sense than moving on to other belt-holders. The remaining champions in the division are O'Shaquie Foster (WBC) and Jazza Dickens (WBA). The Ring title is vacant.

If Navarrete and Nunez run it back, it would also set up another high-level Mexican rivalry, a missing element from the sport ever since the quadrilogy between Rafael Marquez and Israel Vazquez culminated in 2010.

“The belts we're fighting for deserve the respect, and each fighter has the obligation to be prepared and give everything in the ring,” said Navarrete.

“I think the fight is very even. It's going to be a very hard fight. Whoever wins is going to walk away at the very least cut or hurt. Nunez is on my same wavelength, and that's the perfect combination for an excellent fight.”