RAYMOND Muratalla took a confident step up to the next level by dominating Zaur Abdullaev over 12 rounds in the Penchanga Arena, California. The three judges’ totals reflected Muratalla’s impressive display. Steve Weisfeld scored it 118-110, while Dennis O’Connell and David Sutherland went even wider at 119-109 apiece.
Boxing in the absence of IBF lightweight champion Vasiliy Lomachenko (apparently with a back injury), the number two (Abdullaev) and four (Muratalla) rated fighters looked to fill that potential gap by contesting the Interim crown in the meantime.
‘Danger’ Muratalla, 28, held the clear edge in handspeed, whipping the uppercut in between Abdullaev’s steady jabs as the Russian, 31, marched forward behind a high guard.
After the first third of the fight, Abdullaev was struggling to get inside and land. Muratalla had swept all of the opening four rounds, using his speed.
The visitor from Dydymkin, Russia, knew he had to do something different if he was to continue his 9-0 (5 KOs) record since the Devin Haney loss in 2019. The change started in round five with a flurry that seemed to buzz Muratalla briefly.
Trainer Robert Garcia called for more defensive responsibility, followed by the uppercut from the betting favourite. Muratalla defeated Ryan Garcia three times as an amateur, but he hadn’t travelled the 12-round distance before. Abdullaev needed to take him into deeper waters. However, the activity levels just weren’t there once the championship rounds arrived.
Stoic and safe, Abdullaev could not manage to drag himself out of the same rhythm and routine to upset Muratalla’s moves. Referee Thomas Taylor was a virtual spectator as they mostly kept it clean. Abdullaev’s nose was bleeding in the 11th while classy Muratalla remained within his comfort zone.
Muratalla was the WBO’s number one ranked contender, but after 12 rounds of calculated action, the IBF title was around his waist and a possible fight with a legend.
Muratalla is now 23-0 (17 KOs) as a pro, while former amateur standout Abdullaev slid to 20-2 (12 KOs) and flies back to Russia for another possible rebuild. At the end, ESPN’s Mark Kriegel scored it 118-110 unofficially to Muratalla. The judges concurred with his wide assessment.
“Thanks to my team, my defence is something we’ve been working on a lot,” Muratalla grinned after Kriegel’s suggestion that he was still pretty.
“It will be an honour to fight him [Lomachenko] and have his name on my resume. I’m not focused on [Keyshawn Davis].”
