The WBO ordered Stevenson and Muratalla to agree terms by Nov. 16 or face a purse bid; Muratalla's trainer Garcia says Stevenson wanted the fight at 135 lb to drain him.
From 7 reports by 5 outletsLatest Garcia says Stevenson wanted Muratalla drained to 135 lb 3 updates 5 outlets
What we know
- The WBO championship committee unanimously ordered Stevenson to negotiate a mandatory defence of his junior welterweight title against No. 1 contender Muratalla.
- The negotiation deadline is 4 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time on November 16 (); either side can request a purse bid before then.
- No date, venue, broadcaster or purse has been announced for Stevenson vs. Muratalla.
- Muratalla vacated his IBF lightweight title last month after beating Robson Conceicao on August 1.
Reported, not confirmed
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Garcia says Stevenson wanted the fight at 135 lb to drain Muratalla while discussing a 144-145 lb catchweight with Haney.
Combat Sports UK
Disputed
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Stevenson left Zuffa Boxing without fighting for the promotion; Dana White says he offered the release, Stevenson says he requested it.
Knockout Daily
Shakur Stevenson's first order of business as a free agent is not one he chose. The WBO has told him to negotiate a title defence against its No. 1 contender, Raymond Muratalla, and the clock is already running.
The committee's decision was unanimous, and WBO president Gustavo Olivieri confirmed it. It followed a petition from Top Rank, reported by Dan Rafael on October 24, which cited Muratalla's ranking and Stevenson's inactivity since January. The written notice is addressed to Top Rank's Bob Arum and Jeremy Koegel, and to Stevenson's manager James Prince and attorney Josh Dubin. Either side can ask for a purse bid before the window closes, and the committee can act on that request without waiting for the deadline.
The order has also reopened an argument over weight. Muratalla's trainer, Robert Garcia, said in a video interview that Stevenson wanted the fight at 135 pounds to gain an edge by draining Muratalla, while talking to Devin Haney about a 144 or 145 pound catchweight. Garcia said he was relying on people close to Stevenson. Stevenson has not replied in the report.
The timing is awkward for Stevenson. He is 25-0 and beat Teofimo Lopez in January to win the WBO belt. Since then, talks with Haney and Gary Antuanne Russell fell through, according to Bad Left Hook, and his Zuffa Boxing deal ended without a fight. White says he offered the release; Stevenson says he asked for it. Stevenson says he wants the biggest fights at 135 or 140 pounds and is starting his own promotional company. Boxing News says his realistic options are to face Muratalla or vacate.
Muratalla, listed at 25-0 with 17 knockouts by Bad Left Hook, comes up from lightweight. He gave up his IBF belt last month after beating Robson Conceicao on August 1, and he previously beat Andy Cruz. If talks fail, registered promoters bid and the winner controls the date and venue. Under the standing rules, a fight is normally held 45 to 90 days after a bid is awarded.
Watch November 16. A deal would let Stevenson shape the terms himself. A purse bid would hand that control to whichever promoter wins it.
The committee's decision was unanimous, and WBO president Gustavo Olivieri confirmed it. It followed a petition from Top Rank, reported by Dan Rafael on October 24, which cited Muratalla's ranking and Stevenson's inactivity since January. The written notice is addressed to Top Rank's Bob Arum and Jeremy Koegel, and to Stevenson's manager James Prince and attorney Josh Dubin. Either side can ask for a purse bid before the window closes, and the committee can act on that request without waiting for the deadline.
The order has also reopened an argument over weight. Muratalla's trainer, Robert Garcia, said in a video interview that Stevenson wanted the fight at 135 pounds to gain an edge by draining Muratalla, while talking to Devin Haney about a 144 or 145 pound catchweight. Garcia said he was relying on people close to Stevenson. Stevenson has not replied in the report.
The timing is awkward for Stevenson. He is 25-0 and beat Teofimo Lopez in January to win the WBO belt. Since then, talks with Haney and Gary Antuanne Russell fell through, according to Bad Left Hook, and his Zuffa Boxing deal ended without a fight. White says he offered the release; Stevenson says he asked for it. Stevenson says he wants the biggest fights at 135 or 140 pounds and is starting his own promotional company. Boxing News says his realistic options are to face Muratalla or vacate.
Muratalla, listed at 25-0 with 17 knockouts by Bad Left Hook, comes up from lightweight. He gave up his IBF belt last month after beating Robson Conceicao on August 1, and he previously beat Andy Cruz. If talks fail, registered promoters bid and the winner controls the date and venue. Under the standing rules, a fight is normally held 45 to 90 days after a bid is awarded.
Watch November 16. A deal would let Stevenson shape the terms himself. A purse bid would hand that control to whichever promoter wins it.
- Summary
- The WBO ordered Stevenson and Muratalla to agree terms by Nov. 16 or face a purse bid; Muratalla's trainer Garcia says Stevenson wanted the fight at 135 lb to drain him.
- Key points (one per line)
- WBO committee unanimously ordered Shakur Stevenson to negotiate a mandatory defence against No. 1 contender Raymond Muratalla
Talks must conclude by Nov. 16 or the fight can go to a purse bid
Robert Garcia says Stevenson wanted Muratalla to drain to 135 lb while talking to Devin Haney at 144-145 lb
No date, venue or broadcaster has been named
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- MiddleEasy | https://middleeasy.com/boxing/raymond-muratalla-top-rank-wbo-petition-shakur-stevenson/
Boxing News | https://boxingnewsonline.net/news/shakur-stevenson-mandatory-ordered/
Combat Sports UK | https://combatsportsuk.com/news/6190d9aa-c4db-430f-b0b4-a13d3db105d3/wbo-orders-shakur-stevenson-defend-140lb-title-raymond-muratalla
Bad Left Hook | https://www.badlefthook.com/boxing-news/119981/ibf-orders-shakur-stevenson-to-face-raymond-muratalla
MiddleEasy | https://middleeasy.com/boxing/shakur-stevenson-raymond-muratalla-wbo-order-november16-deadline/
Knockout Daily | https://knockoutdaily.com/news/days-after-leaving-zuffa-shakur-stevenson-gets-ordered-into-a-raymond-muratalla-fight
Combat Sports UK | https://combatsportsuk.com/news/4a7b908c-e506-4916-be7e-e58a5d475abc/robert-garcia-says-shakur-stevenson-wanted-to-drain-raymond-muratalla-to-135lb
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Fan poll
Should Muratalla be Stevenson's next mandatory challenger at 140 pounds?
What they're saying
Rated Contender Raymond…
— Gustavo Olivieri, Esq.@OlivieriLawIn the story
Re: WBO Jr. Welterweight (140 lbs.) Division
Oct 27 · View on X
Dan Rafael@DanRafael1In the story
NEWS: @trboxing, on behalf of Raymond Muratalla, has written to the @WorldBoxingOrg & formally petitioned for him to be installed as 140 mandatory for @ShakurStevenson. Muratalla meets the needed criteria & is ranked No. 1 by the WBO, not to mention Shakur hasn’t fought for 9…
Oct 24 · View on X
Fighters in this story
Shakur Stevenson
Devin Haney
Teofimo Lopez
Manny PacquiaoMore photos
How the story developed
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Garcia says Stevenson wanted Muratalla drained to 135 lbCombat Sports UK
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WBO notice sets Nov. 16 deadline; purse bid possible
MiddleEasy
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WBO orders Stevenson-Muratalla talks with 20-day window Boxing News
Sources
Bad Left HookSummarized with AI from the sources above. Read the originals for the full story.
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