There’s a quiet confidence that Raymond Muratalla has. Well, after his recent comments, maybe it isn’t so quiet.
The 26-year-old lightweight contender struts around the division like he owns the place. His recent performances, however, gives him the right to feel that way.
Muratalla (18-0, 15 KOs) is enjoying a three-fight knockout streak. When matchmakers decided that his skills needed to be tested, they threw him in with Jeremia Nakathila. Muratalla, by and large, was expected to win but the 33-year-old was there to provide rounds and a few scary moments. Ultimately, he was unable to do either.
In just two rounds, Nakathila crumbled. Now, with the biggest win of his career underneath his belt, Muratalla is hoping to land a big-time fight against a notable name. Luckily for him, the lightweight division is stockpiled with fighters who can give him a run for his money.
Shakur Stevenson, Gervonta Davis, William Zepeda, and Frank Martin all come to mind when discussing the land of the 135-pounders. And while they’re all great in their own right, Muratalla doesn’t believe a single lightweight soul can knock him off his high horse.
“I don’t see myself losing to any of those 135 pounders,” Muratalla told ESNEWS during a recent interview.
Muratalla has a ton of options at his disposal. Also, due to his age, he has time on his side. The boxing world, nevertheless, is always flooded with politics, making it difficult at times for certain fighters to get into the ring with one another. Muratalla’s situation is different.
Top Rank, the promotional banner he currently fights under, has a long list of highly ranked contenders in their stable. But whether he’s matched up with pound-for-pound star Shakur Stevenson, or future Hall of Famer Vasiliy Lomachenko – the end result will be the same.
“I’m on a different level right now.”