Zaur Abdullaev vs. Raymond Muratalla | ESPN - May 10, 2025

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Zaur Abdullaev vs Raymond Muratalla in the works for interim IBF lightweight title

Zaur Abdullaev and Raymond Muratalla are negotiating an interim title fight, which could turn into the real thing if Vasiliy Lomachenko retires

While IBF lightweight champion Vasiliy Lomachenko waffles on whether to continue his career, RCC Boxing announced that no. 2 Zaur Abdullaev and no. 4 Raymond Muratalla are in talks to meet for the interim title.

Abdullaev (20-1, 12 KO) fell off the map after a 2019 stoppage loss to Devin Haney, but he’s acquitted himself nicely, winning nine straight with notable victories over Zhora Hamazaryan, Jorge Linares, Jovanni Straffon, Roman Andreev, and most recently Juan Javier Carrasco in a final eliminator.

Muratalla (22-0, 17 KO) picked up an iffy but very well-aged win over Tevin Farmer in July before obliterating unheralded Jesus Perez in November. He should make for an excellent fight with Abdullaev, with the added bonus of potentially setting up an all-Top Rank unification if Lomachenko retires and Keyshawn Davis beats Denys Berinchyk for the WBO belt next month.

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Zaur Abdullaev vs Raymond Muratalla interim title bout eyed for May 10th in San Diego

Raymond Muratalla’s first title-ish fight will reportedly land in San Diego

Lance Pugmire reports and Mike Coppinger confirms that the IBF interim lightweight title fight between Zaur Abdullaev and Raymond Muratalla, previously planned for April 5th, will instead land in San Diego on May 10th to accommodate Abdullaev’s observance of Ramadan.

Per Pugmire, a planned super lightweight bout between Lindolfo Delgado and Elvis Rodriguez could fill in the original main event slot.

The sanctioning body ordered the bout earlier this year in response to reigning titlist Vasiliy Lomachenko’s uncertain future; “Hi-Tech” reportedly broke off negotiations for a unification bout with Gervonta Davis and has yet to make a clarifying statement despite Bob Arum’s assurance that he would do so around the new year. Hopefully he’ll do so by the time these two share the ring, as retirement would allow this to become a full vacant title bout.

As I said last time, Abdullaev’s (20-1, 12 KO) has done quite well for himself since his infamous knockout loss to Devin Haney and should make for a good fight with Muratalla (22-0, 17 KO), on whom Top Rank has placed plenty of hope.

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Emanuel Navarrete to defend belt against Charly Suarez on May 10

Emanuel Navarrete will make his fourth defense of the WBO junior lightweight title on May 10 against Charly Suarez, Boxing Scene has confirmed.

The fight will take place at Pechanga Arena in San Diego and will air live on ESPN. The news was first reported by Dan Rafael.

Navarrete, 39-2-1 (32 KOs), last fought at the venue last May, losing a split decision to Denys Berinchyk for the vacant WBO lightweight title. The fight will be the first for Navarrete, 30, since December, when he scored a dominant sixth-round knockout of Oscar Valdez.

Now Navarrete will face a different Olympian, this one being from the Philippines.

Suarez, 18-0 (10 KOs), is the WBO’s No. 1-rated 130lbs contender, and last fought in September, stopping Jorge Castaneda in three rounds. The 36-year-old Suarez, of Davao del Norte province in the Philippines, represented his country at the 2016 Olympics but has struggled in recent years to bring meaningful fights to fruition, with planned fights against Andres Cortes falling through multiple times.

Suarez rose to contention in 2023, when he scored a come-from-behind stoppage of the previously unbeaten Paul Fleming in Sydney, Australia. Since then, his past three fights have taken place on Top Rank undercards.

Boxing Scene had previously reported that the Raymond Muratalla-Zaur Abdullaev IBF interim lightweight title fight would take place on this card, having been moved from its original date of April 5 so Abdullaev would be able to observe Ramadan. Muratalla-Abdullaev will be the co-main event, with the winner being the next in line to face IBF lightweight titleholder Vasiliy Lomachenko, should the 37-year-old Lomachenko continue to box.

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This could be a fun fight and a showcase for Muratalla