Raymond Muratalla to face Diego Torres on August 12 in Arizona
Raymond Muratalla continues to stay active and relevant in a loaded 135-pound division.
The unbeaten Muratalla will face Diego Torres on August 12, Top Rank announced. The 10-round bout will take place at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona and will precede the main event bout between WBO world junior lightweight titleholder Emanuel Navarette and Oscar Valdez.
Both fights will air live on ESPN (10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT).
The clash between Muratalla and Torres as both are unbeaten boxer-punchers and make for fan-friendly fights.
Muratalla (18-0, 15 knockouts), who resides in Fontana, California, last fought on May 20 in Las Vegas on the undercard of the Devin Haney-Vasiliy Lomachenko lightweight title fight. The 26-year-old stopped Jeremia Nakathila in the second round.
In his previous fight on March 25, Muratalla overcame a knockdown in the opening round to break down and knock out Humberto Galindo. Muratalla has stopped 12 of his last 13 opponents.
The fight against Torres will mark Muratalla’s third fight in less than five months. Muratalla is confident he can continue making a name for himself and become a legit contender at 135 pounds.
“I couldn’t be more excited to get back in that ring on such a great card,” said Muratalla, who is trained and managed by Robert Garcia. “I can’t wait to put on another great performance for the fans. I believe this is my time now, and I will continue to show the hard work that’s being put in.”
Torres (17-0, 16 KOs), who resides in Zapopan, Jalisco, last fought on March 25, stopping journeyman Jose Segura Torres in the fifth round. Torres fought in an all-out war against Jonathan Escobedo Martinez on February 19 of last year in Tijuana, winning a hard-fought 10-round unanimous decision.
The 25-year-old will take a significant step-up in opposition, but Torres believes he can overcome Muratalla to come out victorious.
“I am very excited about this fight,” said Torres, who is managed by Giber Lopez. “I think this is a big opportunity for me. Fighting against another undefeated fighter is something that I was looking for. It is my way of showing that I am made for this, and I am here to achieve great things. I am not afraid. I’m going to give it my all and come out with a great victory.”
In the opening bout of the ESPN telecast, heavyweight Richard Torrez, Jr. (5-0, 5 KOs) of Tulare, California will square off against Indianapolis’ Willie Jake, Jr. (11-3-2, 3 KOs) in a six-round bout.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached at santio89@yahoo.com
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