The IBF junior lightweight champion proudly predicted that his title unification clash with countryman Emanuel Navarrete will become an instant classic. Nunez anticipates nothing short of a spectacular slugfest that’ll do Mexican legends like Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales proud.

“The style matchup between myself and Emanuel Navarrete, I feel it will be a war from the very first round,” Nunez told The Ring. “I don’t believe this fight goes 12 rounds. And to be completely honest with you, I don’t see myself losing. I have a winning mentality going into this difficult 12 rounds and really believe I’ll come out the winner.”

Los Mochis’ Nunez (29-1, 27 KOs) promised that thrill-thirsty fans will be the real winners when he and Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs, 1 NC) go at it in a 12-round main event DAZN will stream worldwide from Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona (8 p.m. ET; 5 p.m. PT).

“Because of our styles and winning mentalities, it will be a true war, and will go down as a really fantastic war,” Nunez said. “And things will be written about this fight. I hope in the future that it can be repeated. First and foremost, we hope we both come out healthy from the ring, that we’re both able to leave on our own two feet.”

Nunez understands that the unconventional Navarrete will probably present challenges he hasn’t encountered in any of his first 30 professional fights.

A courageous Christopher Diaz took Nunez 12 rounds in his last fight, an action-packed bout Nunez won by unanimous decision September 6 in Los Mochis. That hard-fought victory over Puerto Rico’s Diaz (30-6, 19 KOs) represented Nunez’s first defense of a then-unclaimed IBF belt he won when he outpointed Japan’s Masanori Rikiishi (16-2, 11 KOs) unanimously May 28 in Rikiishi’s hometown of Yokohama.

San Juan Zitlaltepec’s Navarrete is an awkward, relentless three-division champion, however, much more accomplished than anyone Nunez has encountered.

“I think Navarrete is the hardest opponent you can face at 130 pounds,” Nunez said. “So, I think to end the fight [by knockout] would say a great deal about ‘Sugar’ Nunez. I believe I can make that happen. I believe in the work that we do, my corner and believe in God. Simply being in this fight shows that I’ve made certain steps in my career to face a fighter like Navarrete. It’s an opportunity that I’ve wanted for quite a long time and now it’s just almost around the corner. I feel like it’s a great challenge, an important step I need to make in my career.”

If Nunez can take Navarrete's WBO belt, he is convinced holding two titles will make him a more appealing opponent for WBC champ O’Shaquie Foster (24-3, 12 KOs) or the winner between WBA titleholder James “Jazza” Dickens (36-5, 15 KOs) and Anthony Cacace (24-1, 9 KOs) on March 14 at 3Arena in Dublin.

“First, God willing, we get through this really tough fight that I have with Navarrete,” Nunez said. “But looking beyond that, if I were to have those [two] belts, I’m sure the other champions would be really interested in the possibility of going on and unifying the division.”