Lightweight contender Raymond Muratalla (21-0, 16 KOs) passed his toughest stylistic test Saturday evening by defeating former world champion Tevin Farmer (33-6-1, 8 KOs) via 10-round unanimous decision at Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
Muratalla had to overcome Farmer’s elusive southpaw style by using angles and consistent pressure.
Farmer succeeded by landing straight left hands from the outside, but quick flurries from the 27-year-old stunted his momentum.
In the eighth, referee Thomas Taylor deducted a point from Farmer for excessive holding. Muratalla, who was urged by head trainer Robert Garcia to increase the pressure, stunned Farmer with a right hand in the following stanza.
Muratalla kept the pace high in the final round to clinch the victory and retained his NABO and NABF titles by scores of 97-92, 96-93, and 95-94.
Muratalla said, “I just had to keep applying the pressure. He was moving around. He was holding. So I had to keep putting on the pressure. And we came out with the victory.
“I was just consistent with the pressure. I just kept putting it on. My team told me to keep putting it on. I was breaking him down round by round.
“I want the champions next. [Denys] Berinchyk called my name. I’m calling out his name right now. If I can’t get Berinchyk, then I want Shakur [Stevenson].”
Farmer said, "That point deduction was crazy. I feel like we were both holding. The times I tried to get out, he had my arm, so it looked like I was holding. So, he took the point. But it’s the ref. He makes the calls. So you have to take it on the chin.”
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