Raymond Muratalla vacates IBF lightweight title to move up to 140

Raymond Muratalla has vacated his IBF lightweight title and will move up to the super lightweight division in pursuit of bigger fights.

Muratalla became full IBF champion following Vasiliy Lomachenko’s retirement, then strengthened his position with a majority-decision victory over Andy Cruz in January and a unanimous-decision win over Robson Conceição in August.

The 29-year-old now enters a crowded 140-pound division featuring WBO champion Shakur Stevenson, WBA champion Gary Antuanne Russell and WBC champion Dalton Smith.

Stevenson could represent Muratalla’s clearest route to a title shot, with Muratalla currently ranked No. 1 by the WBO. However, the organization has not yet formally named him mandatory challenger.

His departure also leaves the IBF lightweight title picture open, with the No. 1 ranking currently unfilled and Artur Subkhankulov and Dzmitry Asanau among the leading contenders.

Image Credit: The Ring