By: Kristyna Ramirez
May 1, 2023
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Raymond Muratalla is a “Danger” to the lightweight division in boxing. The rising knockout artist from Fontana, California will meet face to face with the heavy hitter from the South African country of Namibia, Jeremiah Nakathila, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena May 20. The two will open the boxing telecast for the undisputed lightweight championship bout between Devin Haney and Vasiliy Lomachenko on ESPN+ Pay-Per-View.
With a perfect record, 17-0 (14 K.O.’s), Muratalla is confident that he will leave the statement of being ranked amongst the best lightweights in the world for fight fans in attendance, and the millions watching around the world.
“Just to be on this card and to have this opportunity is huge for me, and kind of like what I’ve been working forward to,” said Muratalla. “I just think it’s great.”
“That’s kind of like what I go for (knockouts),” said Muratalla. “I mean, I’m going for it. I’m not intentionally looking for it, but I know it’ll come,” he added.
In his previous bout on March 25, Muratalla sustained himself after a first-round knockdown when facing Mexico’s Humberto Galindo at the Save Mart Arena in Fresno, California.
“It was a surprise. It was just a blink,” said Muratalla. “I just remember being down on the floor, and I was just like what the hell?”
Although suffering a brutal right shot from Galindo in the first round, Muratalla said he knew where he was at, and knew to keep calm and collected.
“I didn’t feel like all crazy, or lightheaded, or anything,” said Muratalla. “I was fine. So, for me, it was just, it was really easy just to bounce back from that, and just to stay focused for the rest of the fight.”
Danger quickly arose as Muratalla adjusted himself in the following rounds. Less than a minute left in the fourth, Muratalla came up with an uppercut and went to the body, dropping Galindo with a devastating left hook to the liver. When the ninth round approached, Muratalla stormed back, yet again, resulting in knocking Galindo out with a head and body combination with only 20 seconds left of the round.
Like Muratalla, Nakathila is coming off a stoppage win over Mexico’s Miguel Berchelt. The two lightweights went to war, as both fighters showed tremendous heart during their battle at the Resorts World in Las Vegas last year in March. Nakathila dropped Berchelt with a solid jab just under a minute and a half remaining in the third round. Berchelt had his moments, but it was no match for the heavy hitter from Namibia. The referee of the bout, Russell Mora, ceased the fight in between rounds after the sixth, crowning Nakathila with an upset victory over Berchelt. Nakathila’s dual with Muratalla will be his return to the ring in over a year.
“It’s exciting,” said Muratalla about his upcoming fight. “I’ve been putting in a lot of work, and, you know, it’s paying off. I’m getting these opportunities, and I’m going to be ready.”
Muratalla trains at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Riverside, California with trainer, Robert Garcia. Garcia’s gym is also known as the House of Champions, where he has turned 14 of his fighters into world champions under his wing. Muratalla is training alongside Joshua Franco, who holds the World Boxing Association (WBA) super flyweight world title, and Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, who carries the World Boxing Organization (WBO) flyweight world title, as well as respected contenders in various weight classes. Garcia says Muratalla is one of the most talented fighters that he works with, and it won’t be long until he is added to his growing list of champions.
“Less than a year, maybe even before the end of the year,” said Garcia. “You never know,” he added.
Depending on if he successfully defends his titles on May 20, Garcia mentions how there have been rumors that the undisputed lightweight champion, Devin Haney, may be moving up in weight, leaving four titles vacant in the lightweight division.
“That means there’s a lot of opportunities for eight guys,” said Garcia. “Raymond could be one.”
Muratalla’s fight with Nakathila is a fight where he will have the opportunity to make a vast statement to be considered one of the best lightweights in the world. After that, he will be more than ready for any champion, said Garcia.
Muratalla’s dad, Gabriel Muratalla, says that it means everything in the world for him to experience his sons’ hard work firsthand.
“It’s special. It’s special,” said Muratalla’s dad. “I mean, this is a fight that we’re taking very serious, and we’re going to be showing the world what we’re made of.”
