# Raymond Muratalla
**Raymond "Danger" Muratalla** is an American professional boxer from [Fontana, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/fontana-california), who held the [International Boxing Federation](https://www.edgepedia.org/international-boxing-federation) (IBF) lightweight world title and compiled an undefeated record of 25 wins (17 by knockout) against no losses. A nine-year professional trained by Robert Garcia, he rose from [Southern California](https://www.edgepedia.org/southern-california) club cards to the IBF championship through a 2023 knockout streak and a 2025 interim-title win, then defended the belt against Andy Cruz and Robson Conceicao before announcing a move to super lightweight (140 pounds).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Record | 25 wins, 0 losses, 0 draws; 17 knockouts (68% KO rate)[1](https://toprank.com/fighters/raymond-muratalla) |
| Division | Lightweight (135 lbs) through his title reign; listed at super lightweight (140 lbs) on his current profile[1](https://toprank.com/fighters/raymond-muratalla) |
| Title | IBF interim lightweight title won against Zaur Abdullaev, May 10, 2025; elevated to full champion after Vasyl Lomachenko's retirement[1](https://toprank.com/fighters/raymond-muratalla) • [2](https://as.com/us/masdeporte/andy-cruz-va-por-el-titulo-de-peso-ligero-de-la-fib-en-2026-f202511-n/) |
| Physical profile | 5′8″, 72-inch reach, orthodox stance[1](https://toprank.com/fighters/raymond-muratalla) |
| Trainer | Robert Garcia, of Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Riverside, California[1](https://toprank.com/fighters/raymond-muratalla) • [3](https://www.ringmagazine.com/news/top-rank-matchmaker-sees-world-title-in-raymond-muratallas-future-9wAmC6fBhjDPr0P165Qls) |
| Professional debut | September 2016[1](https://toprank.com/fighters/raymond-muratalla) |
| Promoter | Top Rank, with fights on Top Rank cards since April 2019[3](https://www.ringmagazine.com/news/top-rank-matchmaker-sees-world-title-in-raymond-muratallas-future-9wAmC6fBhjDPr0P165Qls) |
## Early career
Muratalla turned professional in September 2016 and spent years building his record on Southern California cards before reaching world-level opposition[1](https://toprank.com/fighters/raymond-muratalla). He has fought on Top Rank events since April 2019, and Brad Goodman, the promoter's longtime matchmaker and a 2023 [International Boxing Hall of Fame](https://www.edgepedia.org/international-boxing-hall-of-fame) inductee, tracked his development from prospect to contender. Goodman described him as a no-nonsense fighter who lets his actions speak in the ring, and credited his maturity rather than any single technical change for his improvement[3](https://www.ringmagazine.com/news/top-rank-matchmaker-sees-world-title-in-raymond-muratallas-future-9wAmC6fBhjDPr0P165Qls).
## Rise into title contention, 2023–2024
**The 2023 breakthrough.** Muratalla surged into world title contention in May 2023 by knocking out the big-punching Jeremia Nakathila in two rounds, winning the vacant NABF and WBO Global lightweight titles[1](https://toprank.com/fighters/raymond-muratalla). On November 4, 2023, he stopped the previously unbeaten Diego Torres Nunez in eight rounds in a clash of unbeaten lightweights[1](https://toprank.com/fighters/raymond-muratalla) • [3](https://www.ringmagazine.com/news/top-rank-matchmaker-sees-world-title-in-raymond-muratallas-future-9wAmC6fBhjDPr0P165Qls). By that point he had won 13 of his previous 14 fights by knockout[3](https://www.ringmagazine.com/news/top-rank-matchmaker-sees-world-title-in-raymond-muratallas-future-9wAmC6fBhjDPr0P165Qls).
**The 2024 campaign.** In 2024 he took 10-round decisions over Xolisani Ndongeni in March and former world champion Tevin Farmer in July, then closed the year with a second-round TKO of Jesus Perez on November 2[1](https://toprank.com/fighters/raymond-muratalla). The Farmer fight, held at the Palms in Las Vegas, was close: the Nevada Athletic Commission scored it 94-95, 92-97, and 93-96 for Muratalla, who retained the NABF title and won the vacant WBO NABO lightweight belt[4](https://boxing.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/boxingnvgov/content/results/2024_Results/07-13-24_REDACTED.pdf). In December 2024 The Ring rated him number 7 at 135 pounds[3](https://www.ringmagazine.com/news/top-rank-matchmaker-sees-world-title-in-raymond-muratallas-future-9wAmC6fBhjDPr0P165Qls).
## IBF lightweight champion
Muratalla faced Russia's Zaur Abdullaev, a nine-fight winning streak holder with wins over former world champions [Jorge Linares](https://www.edgepedia.org/jorge-linares), Dejan Zlaticanin, and Roger Gutierrez, for the vacant IBF interim lightweight title on May 10, 2025, at Pechanga Arena in San Diego. Muratalla won a 12-round unanimous decision[1](https://toprank.com/fighters/raymond-muratalla) • [5](https://toprank.com/news/raymond-muratalla-im-ready-to-show-out-on-may-10). He was elevated to full IBF champion after Vasyl Lomachenko's retirement[2](https://as.com/us/masdeporte/andy-cruz-va-por-el-titulo-de-peso-ligero-de-la-fib-en-2026-f202511-n/).
**Defense against Andy Cruz.** On January 24, 2026, at the [Fontainebleau](https://www.edgepedia.org/fontainebleau) in Las Vegas, Muratalla made his first defense against the Cuban Olympic gold medalist [Andy Cruz](https://www.edgepedia.org/andy-cruz), the IBF's number-one contender who had needed only six professional fights to reach the title shot. Muratalla won a 12-round majority decision on scores of 114-114, 116-112, and 118-110, handing Cruz his first professional loss[6](https://as.com/us/masdeporte/andy-cruz-se-queda-a-la-orilla-de-su-primer-titulo-al-caer-ante-raymond-muratalla-f202601-n/). Trainer Robert Garcia said the early rounds were a study period, after which Muratalla pressed and did not let Cruz breathe[6](https://as.com/us/masdeporte/andy-cruz-se-queda-a-la-orilla-de-su-primer-titulo-al-caer-ante-raymond-muratalla-f202601-n/). The Ring called it a career-best win and moved Muratalla to number 2 in its lightweight rankings[7](https://www.ringmagazine.com/news/muratalla-still-looking-to-take-over-the-lightweight-division-Nqz6ro0JaUx78Ok8UzVcn).
**Defense against Robson Conceicao.** Muratalla next defended against Brazil's Robson Conceicao, a former 130-pound titleholder and 2016 Olympic gold medalist, on August 1, 2026, at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. Although promoted by Top Rank, the fight appeared on a Golden Boy card streamed by DAZN and televised by TNT in the United States, with the winners of Muratalla-Conceicao and the Lamont Roach-William Zepeda WBC title fight expected to meet in a unification bout[7](https://www.ringmagazine.com/news/muratalla-still-looking-to-take-over-the-lightweight-division-Nqz6ro0JaUx78Ok8UzVcn). Muratalla won a 12-round unanimous decision[1](https://toprank.com/fighters/raymond-muratalla).
## Style and move to 140 pounds
Muratalla is described as a Mexican-American pressure fighter with an educated jab and a punishing body attack[8](https://boxinglookout.com/fighters/raymond-muratalla). After the Conceicao defense he told DAZN's Chris Mannix that he planned to move up to 140 pounds for his next fight and wanted a title shot in his super lightweight debut[9](https://www.ringmagazine.com/news/1t4311Fqwrhq4EIuHpt6PH). He has also stated his intention to take over the lightweight division's remaining title picture, which in mid-2026 included WBO titleholder [Abdullah Mason](https://www.edgepedia.org/abdullah-mason) and a WBA-ordered fight between [Gervonta Davis](https://www.edgepedia.org/gervonta-davis) and Floyd Schofield Jr.[7](https://www.ringmagazine.com/news/muratalla-still-looking-to-take-over-the-lightweight-division-Nqz6ro0JaUx78Ok8UzVcn).
## References
1. [Raymond Muratalla fighter profile, Top Rank](https://toprank.com/fighters/raymond-muratalla)
2. [Andy Cruz va por el título de peso ligero de la FIB en 2026, AS](https://as.com/us/masdeporte/andy-cruz-va-por-el-titulo-de-peso-ligero-de-la-fib-en-2026-f202511-n/)
3. [Top Rank matchmaker sees world title in Raymond Muratalla's future, The Ring](https://www.ringmagazine.com/news/top-rank-matchmaker-sees-world-title-in-raymond-muratallas-future-9wAmC6fBhjDPr0P165Qls)
4. [Official results, July 13, 2024, Nevada State Athletic Commission](https://boxing.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/boxingnvgov/content/results/2024_Results/07-13-24_REDACTED.pdf)
5. [Raymond Muratalla: "I'm Ready to Show Out on May 10!", Top Rank](https://toprank.com/news/raymond-muratalla-im-ready-to-show-out-on-may-10)
6. [Andy Cruz cae ante Raymond Muratalla y pierde el invicto, AS](https://as.com/us/masdeporte/andy-cruz-se-queda-a-la-orilla-de-su-primer-titulo-al-caer-ante-raymond-muratalla-f202601-n/)
7. [Muratalla still looking to take over the lightweight division, The Ring](https://www.ringmagazine.com/news/muratalla-still-looking-to-take-over-the-lightweight-division-Nqz6ro0JaUx78Ok8UzVcn)
8. [Raymond Muratalla, Boxing Lookout](https://boxinglookout.com/fighters/raymond-muratalla)
9. [Raymond Muratalla wants title shot in 140-pound debut, The Ring](https://www.ringmagazine.com/news/1t4311Fqwrhq4EIuHpt6PH)
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*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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