Raymond Muratalla can stamp self as world's best lightweight

LAS VEGAS – Raymond Muratalla’s elevation to boxing champion has taken him to consecutive matches versus Olympic gold medalists.

Brazil’s Robson Conceicao on Saturday follows Cuba’s Andy Cruz, who Muratalla edged in a riveting January IBF lightweight title defense here.

And winning Saturday in the co-main event of the new monthly boxing series “The Fight” on TNT and DAZN shoots Muratalla, 24-0 (17 KOs), toward a wealth of attractive possibilities.

The top target is WBO 140lbs champion Shakur Stevenson, the unbeaten four-division champion and Olympic silver medalist who recently joined Zuffa Boxing.

“We’ve been [calling him out],” Muratalla told BoxingScene Thursday at his news conference at Virgin Hotels Resort Casino. “At this point, I’m just going to continue to fight and focus on my fights that are made. Whatever happens after happens, but I want the biggest fights. That’s something I’ve been wanting. I don’t know how many more times I can ask for it.” 

First Fontana, California’s Muratalla, 29, has to confront Conceicao, 21-3-1 (10 KOs), the former super-featherweight champion who’s lost a unanimous decision to Stevenson, but fought unified 130lbs champion Emanuel Navarrete to a draw and edged current champion O’Shaquie Foster to win his belt. 

“I was training 40 days in Las Vegas. It’s been very hot, but I'm looking forward to taking this belt back to Brazil,” Conceicao said. “[Muratalla] is a good fighter. I’m not here to talk, I’m here to fight.”

Top Rank’s Hall of Fame matchmaker Brad Goodman said Conceicao’s experience makes him formidable.

“Experienced guy, great amateur pedigree, champion… this may be his last shot and you’ll see the best of him,” Goodman said of the 37-year-old.

Muratalla is set on not allowing Conceicao to be a trap fight as the greater bouts await.

“I’m expecting a good fight. We’re both good fighters, fully prepared. I’m expecting a war,” Muratalla said, explaining Conceicao has fought and seen more than January gold-medalist Cruz. “But I have experience too. I’ve fought so many different guys. You’re just going to see a better version of myself. I’m looking forward to showing him my skillset. I’ve watched all of his fights. I’m fully aware of what he brings.

“It’s just the mindset I have, the drive I have in me. I’m driven to make an impact on the sport and have fun while I’m doing it.”

Muratalla calls the WBC lightweight-title main event pitting former 130lbs champion Lamont Roach Jnr and 2025 title challenger William Zepeda a near 50-50 fight giving Roach the slight edge.

He said he’s willing to fight the winner for a unification, but isn’t sure the winner will want it, just as he questions if Top Rank stablemate Abdullah Mason or the WBA title winner between Floyd Schofield Jnr and Lucas Bahdi will want him.

“I’m looking for the biggest fights,” Muratalla said. “They see I’m a threat to the division and they don't want to fight me. But I want all of them.”