Raymond Muratalla W12 Zaur Abdullaev.... In the San Diego co-feature on ESPN, Southern California native Raymond Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs) defeated Russia's Zaur Abdullaev (20-2, 12 KOs) via one-sided unanimous decision for the vacant Interim IBF lightweight world title. Official scores were 119-109 and 118-110 (twice). [The IBF lightweight champion is Vasiliy Lomachenko, who may retire]. Muratalla boxed cautiously from the outside, using an extended lead hand before ripping short punches down the pipe. At times, the 28-year-old got close to land left hooks and right hands around Abdullaev’s guard before using his feet to step out of harm’s way. Abduallaev tried to mount an offense as the rounds progressed, but Muratalla was too slick and too fast for him to land cleanly.
“He was a tough fighter. He came to fight. I knew that," Muratalla said. "I was just using my skills and picked him apart and beat him every round. I’m the mandatory for {IBF champion} Vasiliy Lomachenko. That’s what we’re looking for. It would be an honor to fight him, to have his name on my resume. I’m looking forward to that.”
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Junior featherweight Sebastian Hernandez (20-0, 18 KOs) from Tijuana, Mexico, took a big step forward in his career. He earned a hard-fought unanimous decision over former world title challenger Azat Hovhannisyan (21-6, 17 KOs). Hovhannisyan had moments, but Hernandez pulled away down the stretch and went the ten-round distance for the first time. All three judges saw it 98-91 for Hernandez.
Junior lightweight Andres Cortes (23-0, 12 KOs) returned from a nearly eleven-month layoff and secured a ten-round unanimous decision over Spain's Salvador Jimenez (14-2-1, 6 KOs) in a largely tactical bout. The scorecards read 100-90 (twice) and 99-91.
San Diego welterweight Giovani Santillan (34-1, 18 KOs) earned a workmanlike ten-round unanimous decision over Mexico’s Angel Beltran (18-3, 11 KOs). Returning to the site of his lone defeat, last May's TKO loss to Brian Norman Jr., Santillan exorcised those demons and secured his second straight victory. All three scorecards had it 97-93 for Santilan.
Junior bantamweight Perla Bazaldua (2-0, 1 KO) shined in her Top Rank debut, shutting out and shutting down the capable Mona Ward (0-2) over four one-sided rounds. Scores: 40-36 3x.
Lightweight: Alan Garcia (16-1, 11 KOs) scored a unanimous points verdict against Cristian Medina (8-3-1, 5 KOs). Garcia was buzzed in the second round, but he recovered to outbox and outfight the durable Mexican veteran. Scores: 79-73 3x.
Junior welterweight Sammy Contreras (2-0, 1 KO) shut out Dyllon Cervantes Alvarado (4-6-1, 2 KOs) winning every one of the four rounds,
