A lot has changed since Raymond Muratalla’s past fight.
For starters, his title status received an upgrade to full IBF 135lbs titlist upon the official retirement of Vasiliy Lomachenko in June. The decision came less than a month after Muratalla outpointed Zaur Abdullaev to claim an interim version of the belt.
Lomachenko’s exit marked the start of a massive changing of the guard at lightweight. Keyshawn Davis, 13-0 (9 KOs) missed weight and was stripped of his WBO title right around that time. Three-division titlist Shakur Stevenson, 24-0 (11 KOs), holds the WBC belt but is due to challenge lineal and WBO 140lbs champion Teofimo Lopez, 22-1 (13 KOs), on January 31.
As recently reported by BoxingScene, WBA titlist Gervonta “Tank” Davis, 30-0-1 (28 KOs) was downgraded to “champion in recess”, with a vacant title fight likely to come as his legal issues continue to mount.
“A lot of things have changed,” Muratalla astutely observed to BoxingScene. “Am I surprised? Not really, this is boxing. It’s part of a game and stuff like this is always going to happen. Hopefully, it makes room for the bigger fights to finally happen at this weight.”
The biggest lightweight fight on the schedule just so happens to involve Muratalla, 23-0 (17 KOs), who risks his belt against mandatory challenger Andy Cruz, 6-0 (3 KOs). Their scheduled 12-round title fight headlines a DAZN show on Saturday from Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
Muratalla attempts the first defense of his title, although oddsmakers view the match as an uphill battle for the 29-year-old from Fontana, California. Cruz, a 2020 Olympic gold medalist, is listed as a -250 favorite according to BetMGM sportsbook, which has Muratalla as a +220 underdog.
In addition to the odds, Saturday’s show is presented by Matchroom Boxing, Cruz’s promoter. Muratalla – who is promoted by Top Rank and trained by Robert Garcia – is fine with the deck being stacked against him and with industry experts believing yet another changing of the guard at lightweight is in store.
In fact, he sees this weekend as a chance to prove to the world he’s ready to fill the massive void left behind at lightweight.
“This is an opportunity for me to stand out,” he said. “I don’t just plan to win [this] weekend, I want to become the face of ’35. That’s what I’m headed towards and this is going to be a good one.”
Joining Muratalla as a new face at the top level of the division is recently crowned WBO titlist Abdullah Mason, 20-0 (17 KOs). The rising 21-year-old southpaw claimed the vacant belt after a 12-round, unanimous decision over Sam Noakes in their fierce battle in November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The WBA belt will likely be up for grabs sooner rather than later. The respective teams for Floyd Schofield and Lucas Bahdi are convinced that a vacant title is forthcoming.
As for Stevenson’s WBC belt, the outcome of his January 31 clash with Lopez will dictate the next steps for that strap. A decision to vacate would mean that all four major 135lbs titles will have changed hands within the past 12 months. The best way to crown a new king will be to mix and match the top candidates, preferably in a hurry.
“Winning this fight will set the table for the big fights I’ve always wanted,” insisted Muratalla. “We’re only in January. I definitely want at least two more fights this year. My main thing is to remain active, and in big fights that the fans want to see.
“That’s what the sport really needs. I’m going to continue to rack up wins, get these big fights and hopefully with another belt in possession.”
Of course, it all has to begin with a win on Saturday.
Muratalla doesn’t seem too worried about that part, even as the underdog and entering on the heels of a seven-month ring absence.
In fact, he feels the onus is on his opponent to show up and show out given his aggressive push into the title picture.
“Andy is a good boxer – personally, I feel like he doesn’t know what he’s walking into,” Muratalla said. “It’s a little too early in his career to come for a fighter like me. But his team, they’re gonna do what they gotta do. He’s their [Matchroom’s] guy, I’m fighting on their promotion. I’m ready for whatever they got. My body’s feeling good, my mind is feeling great.
“There’s nothing they can do to stop me.”
