Raymond Muratalla vs. Robson Conceicao | DAZN - August 1, 2026

[Ruthless-RKO]

With Vasiliy Lomachenko reportedly plotting comeback, Raymond Muratalla heads for August 8 defense

Raymond Muratalla’s riveting first defense of his IBF lightweight title has positioned him for a homecoming event in August, Boxing Scene has learned.

Muratalla, 24-0 (17 KOs), is being pointed to head an August 8 card at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, a neighboring town to where he was raised in working-class Fontana, California.

Muratalla, elevated to IBF champion upon the retirement of former three-division champion Vasiliy Lomachenko, produced an entertaining first defense of the belt January 24 at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, defeating previously unbeaten 2021 Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz of Cuba by majority decision scores of 118-110, 114-114, 116-112.

Muratalla, 29, had expressed interest in meeting new WBO 140lbs champion Shakur Stevenson, but an official close to the situation said the talks subsided and have perhaps fizzled.

Cruz was Muratalla’s mandatory challenger, so Muratalla has the freedom to select from a wider field while defending his belt for a second time.

The list of IBF-ranked lightweights includes No. 3-ranked Albert Bell,

Muratalla, No. 13 Lucas Bahdi and No. 14 Floyd Schofield Jnr, who’s ranked No. 1 by the WBA.

Muratalla’s news came as The Ring reported Tuesday that Lomachenko, 38, is considering a comeback. Tuesday marked the two-year anniversary of his title victory over George Kambosos.

An official familiar with the situation said Ukraine’s two-time Olympic gold-medalist Lomachenko is no longer under contract with his longtime professional promoter, Top Rank. In The Ring story, an official reported he only wants to participate in big fights.

Lomachenko has long wanted to fight recent WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis, who has been out of the ring since March 1, 2025, partially due to a criminal domestic violence case in Florida.

Davis is being targeted for an early fall return bout, Boxing Scene was told earlier this month.

“Or maybe he could fight Muratalla,” one official said.

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Raymond Muratalla will defend his IBF lightweight title against Robson Conceicao on August 1st in Las Vegas.

The bout will serve as the co-main event to Lamont Roach vs William Zeped

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ROACH-ZEPEDA TOPS AUG. 1 SHOW, MURATALLA-CONCEICAO CO-MAIN

Two lightweight title fights are inching closer to being finalized for the summer schedule.

Lamont Roach and William Zepeda are reportedly set to square off for the vacant WBC title to headline a show on August 1 in Las Vegas, while IBF champion Raymond Muratalla makes the second defense of his crown against Robson Conceicao in the co-main event.

DAZN's Chris Mannix reported the development on Saturday and alluded that the winners of each fight would later square off for a title unification bout.

Roach (25-1-3, 10 KOs) last fought in December to a majority draw against Isaac Cruz in a 140-pound fight. It was the second consecutive majority draw for Roach, who also endured an inconclusive result against Gervonta Davis in March 2025.

Zepeda (33-1, 27 KOs) hasn't fought since suffering a unanimous decision defeat in July against then WBC 135-pound champion Shakur Stevenson. The WBC stripped Stevenson of his title in February, days after he beat Teofimo Lopez for The Ring and WBO 140-pound titles.

Muratalla (24-0, 17 KOs) defended his IBF crown for the first time in January while scoring a career-best decision win against Andy Cruz.

Conceicao (21-3-1, 10 KOs), a 2016 Olympic gold medalist, has been keeping busy in Brazil for his last two outings after dropping the WBC 130-pound title during an O'Shaquie Foster rematch in November 2024.

[Taansend]

I have no idea why but I always want Conceicao to win.

Doesn't matter who he's fighting, I'm Team Conceicao.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I have no idea why but I always want Conceicao to win.

Doesn't matter who he's fighting, I'm Team Conceicao.

I Know what you mean..

[Ruthless-RKO]

Raymond Muratalla-Robson Conceicao makes August 1 card a two-fisted lightweight title show

Raymond Muratalla’s second defense of his IBF lightweight title will take place August 1 versus Brazil’s former super-featherweight world champion Robson Conceicao in Las Vegas.

An official familiar with the negotiations confirmed the information to Boxing Scene Sunday after DAZN and Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix first reported the news.

It marks a second consecutive bout against an Olympic gold medalist for Fontana, California’s Muratalla, 24-0 (17KOs), who made his first successful title defense in January in a fight-of-the-year contender versus Cuba’s 2021 Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz.

Muratalla, 29, inherited the IBF title when two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-division world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko retired last year.

Originally, Boxing Scene was told Muratalla promoter Top Rank aimed to give Muratalla a homecoming title defense August 8 at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California.

Top Rank’s union with DAZN, however, allowed for the bout to strengthen the August 1 DAZN card being promoted by Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.

In a bout for the vacant WBC lightweight title, Golden Boy’s recent title challenger William Zepeda, 33-1 (27KOs), of Mexico will meet former super-featherweight champion Lamont Roach Jnr, 25-1-3 (10 KOs), in the main event.

The venue in Las Vegas has not been finalized, but MGM Grand appears open.

The 37-year-old Conceicao, 21-3-1 (10 KOs), won his gold medal at the Summer Games in Brazil in 2016, then claimed the WBC super-featherweight title in a disputed split-decision over current champion O’Shaquie Foster, who avenged his loss by split decision less than four months later.

Conceicao is the IBF’s No. 12-ranked contender has fought twice in Brazil since the Foster loss, knocking out Yonnaiquer Rondon in August, then defeating Helber Rojas, 26-15-2, on April 4.

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CONFIRMED: Raymond Muratalla will defend his IBF lightweight title against Robson Conceicao in the Aug. 1 Lamont Roach-William Zepeda co-feature live on TNT US and DAZN.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Raymond Muratalla not downbeat about taking second billing on August 1

Raymond Muratalla is not getting a homecoming fight, is deprived of top billing and is assigned a second consecutive Olympic gold medalist.

Yet, Muratalla knows exactly what this is.

Nothing is gifted in boxing, promises can get reversed and even victory can hurt like hell.

Thus, IBF lightweight champion Muratalla, 29-0 (17 KOs), will report for duty versus Brazil’s 2016 gold medalist and former super-featherweight world champion Robson Conceicao August 1 on the TNT/DAZN card headlined by the WBC lightweight bout between Lamont Roach Jnr and William Zepeda at Virgin Hotels and Resort in Las Vegas.

“I love to fight. I’m here to fight. Wherever it is, that’s just me – glad to be a part of this,” Muratalla, 29, told Boxing Scene Tuesday at the introductory news conference for the card staged at Golden Boy Promotions’ headquarters.

Zepeda promoter Golden Boy is promoting the card, not Muratalla’s promoter, Top Rank, which was earlier working toward an August 8 homecoming main event in nearby Ontario, California, for the champion following his tightly contested January victory over 2021 Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz of Cuba.

Instead, Top Rank loaned Muratalla to the card that will be both streamed on DAZN and shown on TNT, giving the Fontana, California, fighter his greatest exposure yet.

“I didn’t get the hometown [fight] I wanted. That would’ve been perfect, but I love fighting in Vegas, and everyone loves to travel out to Vegas,” Muratalla said. “It’s good for me to gain a greater audience, a bigger fan base, and I’m looking forward to it.”

One prominent boxing official told BS Tuesday that it’s not a given that the two lightweight champions who emerge from the August 1 bouts will fight each other next.

Muratalla said he feels good at 135lbs, but could also be swayed to pursue bigger fights – perhaps against 140lbs and four-division champion Shakur Stevenson – in the near future.

“Eventually, [I’ll go up in weight]. Right now, I’m comfortable here at 135lbs and we’ll see where it goes,” he said.

Part of that is to improve upon the gritty and skilled showing he produced in impressively defeating Cruz.

“It was a good performance. I did what I needed to do to win. With more fights to come, you’re going to see a lot more things,” Muratalla said. “You’ll see the real talent I have.”

He said the 37-year-old Conceicao, 21-3-1 (10 KOs), offers the key assets of experience and seeking action.

Winning requires Muratalla to “be myself, do what I do, have fun. Keeping that mindset, my mentality.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Week!!

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Raymond Muratalla can stamp self as world's best lightweight

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 Boxing Scene 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.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Raymond Muratalla Sees No Need For Rematch With Andy Cruz

Raymond Muratalla doesn’t think there is any justification for fighting Andy Cruz again.

The unbeaten IBF lightweight champion settled for a 12-round, majority-decision victory over Cuba’s Cruz on January 24 at Fontainebleau Las Vegas. The prevailing feeling afterward, however, was that Muratalla clearly won, which is why he dismissed Cruz’s contention that the result warrants a second shot at Muratalla’s championship.

“I don’t think it deserves a rematch,” Muratalla told The Ring. “I beat him fair, beat him clean and comfortably, so I’m looking forward to bigger fights and definitely moving on from that.”

Muratalla (24-0, 17 KOs), The Ring’s No. 2 contender for a vacant lightweight title, is scheduled to make his second defense of the IBF 135-pound championship against former WBC 130-pound belt-holder Robson Conceicao (21-3-1, 10 KOs) on Saturday night at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. Their 12-round co-feature will precede another lightweight title fight in the main event – Lamont Roach (25-1-3, 10 KOs) versus William Zepeda (33-1, 27 KOs) for the unclaimed WBC belt.

The 29-year-old Muratalla, of Fontana, California, hopes he gets credit from all three judges this time for the convincing victory he expects to produce. Judges Tim Cheatham (118-110) and Steve Weisfeld (116-112) scored 10 and eight rounds respectively for Muratalla against Cruz, but Max De Luca determined their competitive contest was a draw, 114-114.

“That was a weird scorecard,” Muratalla said. “I definitely didn’t see it a draw at all. I was super confident I was winning the whole fight. I was surprised to hear that and see that.”

Beating a fighter of Cruz’s caliber strengthened the emerging Muratalla’s standing in the lightweight division. The 2021 Olympic gold medalist is the most accomplished, skillful opponent Muratalla, a durable boxer-puncher, has defeated during a pro career that began nearly 10 years ago.

“I was definitely happy about the win,” Muratalla said. “I felt very confident throughout the fight, so there was no question of my performance and the win. I felt really good that fight. My body felt good, everything went my way, and I went in there to win. I’m just on to the next. I got that done and I’m ready for more.”

Cruz (7-1, 4 KOs) responded impressively to his first professional defeat by viciously knocking out Mexican veteran Abraham Montoya (24-8-1, 14 KOs) in the third round July 18 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. The 30-year-old Cruz met Montoya at the lightweight limit, but he will probably return to the junior lightweight division for his next bout because he is more likely to land another championship opportunity at 130 pounds.

Muratalla is a 14-1 favorite to beat Brazil’s Conceicao, according to DraftKings. The winner is expected to face Roach or Zepeda next in what would be a title unification fight.

TNT will televise the card headlined by Roach-Zepeda in the United States (8 p.m. ET; 5 p.m. PT). DAZN’s global coverage of the event is also set to begin at 8 p.m. ET in the U.S. and 1 a.m. BST Sunday in the United Kingdom.

[Evander]

Two well matched opponents.
Muratalla won clean, but Conceicao fought well for his age and was in good shape.
Although many of the rounds were closely fought, it was Muratalla that won most of them.

[gilgamesh]

Muratalla looks to be a pretty solid talent at this weight range. Definitely a guy that should be in the mix for some of the bigger fights. Hopefully he's got some big matchups in his near future. He says he'll be moving up to 140. Still plenty of big fights to be made there as well.

[Evander]

Muratalla looks to be a pretty solid talent at this weight range. Definitely a guy that should be in the mix for some of the bigger fights. Hopefully he's got some big matchups in his near future. He says he'll be moving up to 140. Still plenty of big fights to be made there as well.

You think he'll be a threat at 140 ?

[gilgamesh]

Muratalla looks to be a pretty solid talent at this weight range. Definitely a guy that should be in the mix for some of the bigger fights. Hopefully he's got some big matchups in his near future. He says he'll be moving up to 140. Still plenty of big fights to be made there as well.

You think he'll be a threat at 140 ?

Maybe not to Shakur, but I think he'd be a threat to anyone else in that weight class. I'd have him face a few of the other guys before pursuing a fight with Stevenson, but I'd personally favor him to beat the likes of say Gary Antuane Russell or Dalton Smith.

[Evander]

Muratalla looks to be a pretty solid talent at this weight range. Definitely a guy that should be in the mix for some of the bigger fights. Hopefully he's got some big matchups in his near future. He says he'll be moving up to 140. Still plenty of big fights to be made there as well.

You think he'll be a threat at 140 ?

Maybe not to Shakur, but I think he'd be a threat to anyone else in that weight class. I'd have him face a few of the other guys before pursuing a fight with Stevenson, but I'd personally favor him to beat the likes of say Gary Antuane Russell or Dalton Smith.

Cool your jets on Dalton Smith. he hasn't got through Puello yet.

[gilgamesh]

You think he'll be a threat at 140 ?

Maybe not to Shakur, but I think he'd be a threat to anyone else in that weight class. I'd have him face a few of the other guys before pursuing a fight with Stevenson, but I'd personally favor him to beat the likes of say Gary Antuane Russell or Dalton Smith.

Cool your jets on Dalton Smith. he hasn't got through Puello yet.

Indeed, and he may not.

[handsofstone]

118-110 Muratalla, pretty forgettable fight, workmanlike performance from the champ, kept it simple, controlled ring centre, pressured Conceicao, made him move constantly, jabs, 1/2s, worked the body sometimes but not enough imo, couldn't get to Conceicao or hurt him, it was bread and butter stuff, Conceicao done a good job of making Muratalla miss with big shots and never allowed him to pin him down, Conceicao got through with enough to make some rounds closish but not offensively active enough to win rounds, routine win for Muratalla

[Ruthless-RKO]

He wasn’t happy with his performance and says he will vacate and move up in weight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Muratalla has now vacated..

Will move up. Should be in like for Stevenson at 140lbs