Eduardo Nunez provided an early candidate for 2023 Knockout of the Year.
A right hand over the top put Jesus Martin Ceyca flat on his back and on the canvas for several minutes to provide Nunez with a second-round knockout. Medical attention was provided to Ceyca upon the immediate stoppage at 2:14 of round two in their junior lightweight contest Saturday evening at Polideportivo Juan S. Millan in Culiacan, Mexico.
Ceyca entered the fight with hometown advantage and an unbeaten record, though against soft competition. Nunez was the far more seasoned boxer and carried into the ring a fourteen-fight win streak, all by knockout and with one more added to that run.
The writing was on the wall early as Los Mochis’ Nunez was measuring up the awkward Ceyca, who was made to realize early of the massive difference in power. Nunez stalked his countryman and constantly kept him within his desired punching range.
Ceyca was positioned into the fight-ending blow. Nunez subtly drove Ceyca (17-1, 8KOs) to the ropes before he lined him up with a vicious right hand over the guard of the unbeaten 28-year-old. The shot left Ceyca out on his feet before melting to the canvas. No count was issued as the fight was immediately halted so that ringside staff could tend to the fallen fighter.
Nunez advanced to 24-1 (24KOs) with the brutal win, though—in a true sign of class and respect—waited for his opponent to make it to his feet before he began the celebration.
The lone fight to go the distance for Nunez resulted in his only career defeat, a June 2019 six-round decision to Hiram Gallardo in Cancun.
Headlining the show, streaking lightweight contender Angel Fierro (20-1-2, 16KOs) faces Eduardo Estela (14-1, 9KOs) in a scheduled ten-round contest.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox