Live on ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. – Raymond “Danger” Muratalla is swiftly climbing the ranks of the lightweight category, pausing for no one.
The 26-year-old sensation Muratalla, who spectacularly ousted Jeremia Nakathila within two brief rounds in May, is set to make his third spectacular appearance this 2023 in a gripping 10-round bout against fellow undefeated Mexican star, Diego Torres. This highly anticipated event is scheduled for Saturday, August 12, at the Desert Diamond Arena nestled in Glendale, Arizona.
The exciting face-off between Muratalla and Torres will serve as an appetizing prelude to the main event: a junior lightweight title face-off between the reigning WBO world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete and the accomplished former two-division world champion, Oscar Valdez. Kicking off this power-packed televised tripleheader is U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. who steps into the heavyweight ring for a six-round duel against Willie Jake Jr.
The trio of thrilling matches—Navarrete-Valdez, Muratalla-Torres, and Torrez-Jake—are set to be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Managed by Top Rank, ticket sales, starting from a reasonable $50, are currently underway at Ticketmaster.com.
Muratalla (18-0, 15 KOs), with his impressive knockout record, is rapidly emerging as a formidable contender in his category. He stepped into professional boxing in 2016 in Mexico, and two short years later, he made his debut on U.S. soil. He has effectively halted 12 of his recent 13 opponents, maintaining a trajectory towards his most stunning year yet. In a hard-fought match in March, he rallied from a first-round knockdown to overpower Humberto Galindo with a decisive body shot in the ninth round. In May, he commenced the Devin Haney-Vasiliy Lomachenko pay-per-view broadcast with his crushing defeat of Nakathila.
An exhilarated Muratalla shares, “I am thrilled to be stepping back into the ring on such a fantastic lineup. I am eager to deliver yet another stellar performance for the fans. I firmly believe that this is my moment, and I will continue to demonstrate the fruits of my relentless training.”
Torres (17-0, 16 KOs), at 25 years old, hails from Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. The eldest of four boxing siblings, he embarked on his professional journey in 2019, marking a consecutive 13 knockout victories. In February 2022, he faced fellow Zapopon native Jonathan Escobedo Martinez, enduring the full 10-round duration in a thrilling, action-packed brawl. Since his epic duel with Martinez, Torres has remained undefeated, securing three victories, all knockouts. In his most recent match, he triumphed over Jose Segura Torres with a fifth-round TKO in March. Torres is eagerly awaiting his 26th birthday as he prepares for his much-anticipated U.S. debut.
An enthusiastic Torres shares, “I am tremendously excited about this match. I view it as a significant opportunity. The prospect of competing against another undefeated contender is exactly what I was hoping for. It’s my platform to demonstrate that I am cut out for this, and I am here to accomplish significant feats. I harbor no fear. I plan to give it my all and secure a resounding victory.”