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SportsTranscript
00:00Coach, can I have you right here?
00:04Gentlemen, right here.
00:06All right, guys.
00:07Everything from the bottom of the black up is going to be good.
00:10Everything from the bottom of the letters here up is going to be good.
00:13You've got my instructions in the back, gentlemen.
00:14Protect yourselves at all times.
00:16Listen by commands.
00:16Touch them up.
00:18Back to your corner, gentlemen.
00:20For Zawar Abdelayev, last time he was in a world title fight, it was against Devin Haney.
00:24He's the last man to be stopped by Devin Haney.
00:27That was in 2019.
00:28But it was a fractured orbital bone.
00:31That dream became a nightmare for Raymond Muratai.
00:34He wants that dream to stay a dream and to become a reality.
00:38One man will be a world champion.
00:40Muratai Abdelayev, there's your first bell.
00:43Bernardo Osuna alongside the International Boxing Hall of Famer, Timothy Bradley.
00:47Mark Priegel, roving reporter for the evening tonight.
00:51You see Muratai trying to get off to a quick start going to the body.
00:55Just trying to use some angles right here.
00:56You see Muratai, that foot movement that you saw was just angles.
01:02Didn't do anything off those angles.
01:04However, Abdelayev, strong, physically strong.
01:08You can tell.
01:08Look how big his back is.
01:10He likes to come forward.
01:12Comes behind a high-tight guard.
01:13He likes to stab down low and sneak over the top with right hands.
01:21Look, Abdelayev is heavy on the jab.
01:23Lands 8 of 30.9 per round, which is 2.4 more than Muratai.
01:28And Tevin's 10.7 more thrown than his opponent.
01:32So that's his weapon of choice.
01:34For Muratai, it's power and accuracy.
01:36It's power, accuracy, counter-punching ability.
01:40But that jab, what that jab does, it's going to disrupt the rhythm.
01:44If he can stay constant with it, Abdelayev, if he can stay constant with it,
01:47it's going to disrupt the rhythm.
01:48And counter-punchers, that's what they hate.
01:50They hate guys that are accurate with their jab.
01:53So we'll see how effective Abdelayev's jab is going to be this first round.
02:00I'm going to take my time, feel him out, and then start trying to wear him down.
02:06Abdelayev had an extensive amateur pedigree as well.
02:11You know, although his style is pretty simple, it's extremely effective.
02:16You know, he starts to slow and slowly apply more and more pressure
02:19as the rounds continue.
02:22And he seems to get stronger as the rounds go.
02:26Something rare, Tim.
02:28Abdelayev has two 12-round stoppages.
02:31And that goes to show you that this man prepares.
02:34He's got the wind and the power to carry late,
02:37which is so difficult to do in this sport.
02:42Again, you see him feigning.
02:45Body feints, foot feints.
02:46Good counter for a tie-off with the Abdelayev jab.
02:55Bit of a chess match right now, technical battle by both men.
03:00Neither guy looking to make a mistake.
03:03Both die feigning.
03:05Trying to get the other one to commit.
03:06He's trying to counter the strength of the other here
03:15in the first two and a half minutes of this fight.
03:17Well, right now, Abdelayev is at the East.
03:20That stab jab is working for him downstairs.
03:24How do you beat a jab?
03:25You go over the top.
03:25Over the top, the right hand.
03:27That's how you beat it.
03:28Or you step out of range, make it fall short,
03:29and lift him up with the uppercut.
03:34Listen for that bell, gentlemen.
03:35First round of 12 for the lightweight championship.
03:39Here is top-ranked boxing.
03:41Good round to study him, all right?
03:48That was a good round to study him.
03:50How are you feeling?
03:51Good.
03:51How do you feel him?
03:53Thank you, team.
03:53All right, then.
03:54Keep that smart.
03:55Keep that smart.
03:56Keep that pants.
03:57He's trying to feint that jab to the body
03:58because he wants to get you with that hook upstairs,
04:00all right?
04:00So just keep this hand right here.
04:02Boom, boom, right here, all right?
04:03Smart.
04:03Keep that.
04:04Keep throwing it around him, all right?
04:06All day.
04:06Get some water.
04:08How do you feel him?
04:10Okay?
04:13Deep breath.
04:14That's?
04:15Bad, bad, middle.
04:16Okay?
04:19How do you feel?
04:20Good?
04:20Then when you're set,
04:21then that's when you go, all right?
04:22With the power.
04:23All right.
04:23Okay?
04:23Don't throw it from far, okay?
04:25Put your hands up, too.
04:26And keep your hands up all the time, all right?
04:27Hands up high all the time.
04:30Smart, all right?
04:31Keep that simple, all right?
04:32Keep winning those rounds, all right?
04:36Breathe.
04:36All right, second.
04:37Let's go.
04:39Fred, you got a thing, man.
04:41Let's see.
04:44On the way back, man.
04:45On the way back.
04:46This fight is for the interim IBF lightweight title.
04:50We talked about none of the champions calling out the name of Raymond Murataya.
04:54This is a man that, as an amateur, had three wins over Ryan Garcia.
04:58And in his Fontana backyard, where his father set up a ring,
05:02they hosted the likes of Ryan Garcia, Mark Castro, Carlos Baldera, the Olympian.
05:07So he came up fighting in the backyard against elite fighters.
05:11And this is what you get from those backyard brawls.
05:14That beautiful left uppercut from Murataya who starts to open up here in round two.
05:18You got a training facility at your house, a boxer with a ring in the back?
05:22I mean, come on now.
05:23That's next level.
05:26People from in his neighborhood, another neighborhood would come to spar.
05:30And, you know, you see that technique.
05:32Yeah, more technique in the skill.
05:33That stab jab from Abdullaev, and Robert Garcia was talking to him
05:42about how that opens up other opportunities for him.
05:44Yeah, he's looking for it.
05:45He told him he was looking for the left hook, Abdullaev.
05:48That's the reason why he was admitting with that stab jab.
05:50He's looking to sneak him over the top.
05:53That was a nice little shot down there to the flank of Murataya by Abdullaev.
05:59It was off of two jabs, too.
06:00Yeah.
06:00He's starting to get a little bit more busy with his jab,
06:03but what I did like about what Murataya was doing is he threw a combination,
06:07occupied him upstairs, and then he slipped the uppercut right underneath that guard.
06:12Oh, nice right hand for Murataya.
06:14Nice setup.
06:18They call him danger for a reason.
06:20Anytime you are in that ring with Raymond Murataya,
06:24they say he's a killer in the gym,
06:26and he's proven to be that inside the ring under the big light.
06:29So, earlier in the show, you said if Murataya, how do you know he's on?
06:34He's on.
06:35I'm thinking of him.
06:36He's on.
06:37His reactions, how quick he's reacting,
06:40the punching power,
06:42the speed,
06:43the accuracy.
06:45He's on tonight.
06:47Nice feint right there.
06:48Subtle feints.
06:49Keep him guessing.
06:50Ooh, nice left hook there.
06:51Yes.
06:52From Murataya.
06:52He's quick to strike on the counter.
06:55And then you see the movement afterwards.
06:57He makes Avdolayev pick up his feet.
06:59But you see how Avdolayev is trying to get after him right away
07:02to try to get some good back.
07:04He's neutralized the jab of Avdolayev so far.
07:07Only 11 of 27 through the first two rounds.
07:12See the angle shit?
07:13Slight little angle changes right there.
07:15Make your opposition pick up his feet.
07:17While he's picking up his feet,
07:19you can counter him
07:20as he's readjusting.
07:23That's what you're seeing from Murataya.
07:24Subtle movements left and right.
07:27Avdolayev is coming straight down the middle.
07:29Stab jab from Avdolayev trying to go to his bread and butter.
07:38He's going to need to do more than just stab jab.
07:43Listen to the NFL, guys.
07:44Ooh, in this commercial break,
07:45we're going to show some of the best punches
07:47as it ended a little early in the two box.
07:53All right.
07:54San Diego, if you're not ready, call him out.
07:57Yeah, after you throw, he's trying to have a look.
07:59All right, so just keep your hand up or go under.
08:02And when you step back, step back with your hand up.
08:04Okay, both hands up.
08:05Don't stand up like this, all right?
08:06Go like this, all right?
08:08Super powerful.
08:09No cover with your fight ticket,
08:11so bring it along and come through.
08:13We've got drink specials, five DJs,
08:15and a crowd that's just as lit as the main event.
08:19Don't tap out early.
08:20The party continues at Whiskey Grill
08:22and Double Deuce exclusively.
08:24Left to the body, right?
08:25Now, left to the body.
08:26Just make sure it's at the right time.
08:28Not from far, okay?
08:29You got it, bro.
08:29All right?
08:30This is about you, all right?
08:31Keep having fun.
08:31Let's have fun.
08:32Have fun, all right?
08:33With that right hand, look.
08:34Don't go up that right.
08:36Be careful when you throw that right,
08:37and get by the counter.
08:38Go under it.
08:40Check it out!
08:43Smart, all right?
08:44In the corner of Zawar Abdelayev,
08:53they're saying he's looking to counter.
08:55Don't give him the space to counter,
08:58because, Tim, when you let Muratai,
09:00it's a nice combination right here.
09:02Touch the top, split the guards.
09:05You know, that high guard can get you in so much trouble,
09:09and again, nice, blinding lead jab,
09:12followed by the right hand,
09:14splitting that guard once again.
09:16Muratai in the southpaw stance.
09:18He's going in his bag tonight.
09:20He's going in his bag.
09:21This is for the belt.
09:22Absolutely.
09:23It sure is.
09:24Watch it, Pete, gentlemen.
09:25You know who Muratai's favorite fighter is?
09:29Mr. Andre.
09:31And Andre can fight from that southpaw stance as well.
09:37Muratai right now going in his bag,
09:40deep in his bag,
09:41pulling out all the tricks.
09:43Nice body shot,
09:44and then up top from Muratai,
09:46switching the cadence up,
09:47and now he's back to his orthodox stance.
09:49I would love to see Muratai get a little bit more on his jab.
09:52He needs to get a little bit more active with that lead hand.
09:55And I would love to see Abdeliah
09:58just get a little bit more busier with his words.
10:01Throw some more offense out there.
10:03Maybe a 1-2, 1-2-3.
10:07The thing is, every time he's let the hands go,
10:10Muratai has had an answer.
10:11See, when you have a guy that's sitting there that's smart,
10:13right?
10:15Because I think that Muratai is more skillful,
10:18and I think from the looks of things,
10:19he's a lot more smarter.
10:20You know, you can't give him time to think.
10:23You've got to get on top of him.
10:24You know, you've got to put some pressure on him.
10:26You've got to force him to make mistakes.
10:28I know it's still early right now, however.
10:31Those first couple of rounds,
10:33it did him Muratai's favor.
10:35Just the speed, the power, and the accuracy.
10:39He's winning these early rounds.
10:40Neither guy very active.
10:43Muratai throws 47, punches around.
10:45Abdoulaye 46, that's well below the 57 punches thrown average for the 135-pound weight class.
10:56Abdoulaye especially is going to have to go out of his comfort zone because the jab's not working tonight, Tim.
11:00No, the jab is not working.
11:01He's making it.
11:03Muratai's making it fall short.
11:08However, when you're down three rounds,
11:10exactly, and he's taking that jab away, too.
11:14But with that right hand.
11:17But when you're down two rounds, it's like it's time to change the strategy.
11:21Nice work from Abdoulaye right there.
11:25Great counter, sharp, sharp counters.
11:30Best punch of the fight so far for a medium-based Russian.
11:39Nice uppercut right there, just splitting the guard again with the uppercut.
11:46Listen for that belt, gentlemen.
11:47Three rounds.
11:48Abdoulaye needs to get going here against Muratai,
11:51and he delts just at the belt.
12:00Keep doing that, all right?
12:01You're winning every round.
12:03Keep doing that.
12:03Keep that rhythm going, all right?
12:05Side to side, little steps.
12:07Take your punches right.
12:08Boom, boom, boom.
12:09And fucking dig in with a hard body shot, all right?
12:12That body shot, don't look for it when you're far.
12:15Until you touch him, touch him, then dig into the body, all right?
12:18Don't go.
12:19Predictions on, take a look at that screen above you, stand in the QR code, and tell us how many rounds is it going to go.
12:25Dabai, dabai a little more, okay?
12:26If you're going to distance, are we going to see if you're going to knock out, both down?
12:31A lot of things, a lot of things.
12:33What's your can do?
12:33Yeah, by Coke.
12:34One more round, a little, a little.
12:37Yeah, yeah.
12:38Yeah.
12:38No problem.
12:39Just be careful with the right hand.
12:42Touch him, touch him, boom, and then watch that.
12:44Move your head, all right?
12:45Because he's an end.
12:45All right, let's go.
12:48Ready for round four of the scheduled 12-round fight for the interim IBF lightweight world title.
13:03So far, great start for Raymond Murataya, but Zahur Abdullah showed signs of life to him there at the end of round four.
13:10Yes, he did.
13:13Finally let some offense go.
13:14That right hand has been working for Abdeliah.
13:19But check out this, this move right here.
13:22Dangerous move, not going to lie.
13:23You're not supposed to drop your hands from your face, but a nice little parry counter right there, right hand from Murataya.
13:31See, that's not, I'm just letting y'all know, that's not textbook.
13:34He got away with it.
13:35However, if I'm Abdeliah, if I see that, now I'm going to fake like I'm going to go downstairs.
13:40Under the jab, and I'm going to come up with the left hook because he's going to bring that hand down the block.
13:45That was a nice stab jab from Abdeliah now, but it was pretty.
13:49If he can get that jab going, it could change the fight.
13:52Absolutely.
13:53And then Murataya will have to make the adjustments.
13:56Nice body shot.
13:57Murataya hitting hard.
13:58Yeah.
13:59You can hear them shots.
14:00He's hitting hard off the elbows, off the arms.
14:04And Abdeliah, he's being selective with his punches because he's not trying to open himself up to be knocked out.
14:10You can see the quick hands of Murataya.
14:14And now Abdeliah has to think before he closes that gap, and there's a nice right.
14:18And Murataya now is putting two together, three shots together, not just a single counter.
14:26Which can be dangerous for Abdeliah.
14:30Nice shot to the body again.
14:36It's a setup shot for Abdeliah.
14:38That same right hand that landed at the end of the last round.
14:51You saw right there, Murataya avoiding it, just stepping a little bit out of range.
14:56A stiff jab to the head from Abdeliah, who takes a body shot from Murataya with the left hook downstairs.
15:04I like the variation from Murataya.
15:07It's kind of confusing.
15:08Abdeliah going to the head with two shots and then whipping that left hook to the outside, to the ribcage.
15:14I think that's been the biggest difference in the fight.
15:18The cadence of Abdeliah is the same from round one to now, and Murataya has been able to mix it up.
15:24Yeah, it's been the same thing from Abdeliah.
15:27He hasn't done anything different.
15:30That's the problem.
15:31And when you have someone as smart as Murataya, it's easy to figure out.
15:36And that's why you're starting to see him start to rev up the offense moving forward.
15:43Slight feints for Murataya here in round number four.
15:46That one-two from Murataya misses on that one.
15:53Punch volume and accuracy.
15:54The difference so far in favor of the California.
15:57It's got to be a little bit louder.
16:02It's a little bit louder.
16:03On the 10th second.
16:05How are you feeling?
16:06Good.
16:06Condition-wise?
16:07Good.
16:07How about his power?
16:09No?
16:09All right.
16:10Still keep buying his mark.
16:11That was the fourth round.
16:12We got many rounds, but keep picking them far, little by little.
16:15You're breaking them down.
16:16Step in a little bit closer with a double jab, so you can reach in with a round of the round.
16:19You threw it beautiful, but you were this much far.
16:22So step in a little bit closer with a jab, all right?
16:25Like that, really.
16:26Very good, Murataya.
16:27You're good?
16:27He's got to close the gap.
16:31Listen, all he has is the counter-right hand.
16:34That's all he's looking for.
16:36Understand?
16:49Let's take a look at our punch of the night, brought to you by Miller Lite.
16:52It was in our first undercard fight, and it was Sebastián Hernández behind that jab.
16:57Putting punches together against Azat Hovenissian, the former world title challenger, on his way to a ten-round unanimous decision victory.
17:06All right, Mark Kriegel.
17:07All right, Mark Kriegel.
17:08We are into round five through four completed here.
17:11What does your unofficial scorecard look like?
17:14No.
17:15No.
17:16No.
17:17Raymond Murataya, four rounds to nothing.
17:19First round was debatable.
17:20The next three were not, going into the fight,
17:23he told me he can't match my speed, Abdullayev can,
17:27and there's nothing that I've seen so far that would disprove that.
17:30One note of caution, though,
17:32Abdullayev does have a habit of really stating some wonderful rallies.
17:36Yes, he closes very strong, and he's got two 12-round knockouts,
17:40so you can never count out Zaur Abdullayev,
17:44but look, Murataya right now is connecting his power shots at a 42% clip
17:49compared to 28% for Abdullayev, and that's dangerous territory, Tim.
17:53I'm just waiting on Abdullayev to open up a little bit more.
17:56If he opens up a little bit more than that,
17:58it's going to be allowed Murataya to be able to land more counter shots on against him.
18:02However, Murataya right now.
18:04That's right hand, double right from Abdullayev, and he's opening up here.
18:08Hey, buzzed him.
18:10He did momentarily buzzed him with that right hand.
18:12He's been looking for that right hand all night.
18:14You're seeing what happened.
18:16What's going on is Murataya sitting on that rear leg, you know,
18:21and when you're sitting on that rear leg,
18:23there's no movement you can do other than drop down,
18:26and he's not dropping down further enough to get away from that right hand.
18:29He's right in the line,
18:31the line of fire for the right hand of Abdullayev.
18:33Nice counter right there by Murataya,
18:36who has been dropped twice against Umberto Galindo in March of 2023.
18:41That was in the first round and also in round two against Cesar Valenzuela.
18:45And so early on, he's had trouble.
18:47He seems to have gotten past the danger zone,
18:50but Abdullayev just showed that when he lets his hands go,
18:53he will be a dangerous fighter.
18:55It was just a mistake from Murataya.
18:58That's what it was, a mistake.
19:00Again, you're jabbing from mid-range.
19:02It's going to get countered, and he timed it perfectly.
19:05And at the same time, you're going to see every now and then,
19:07let me see if Murataya gets to it.
19:09I'll try to see if he goes into that little posture
19:12where he's leaning on his back foot,
19:14and he has nowhere to go but down.
19:29Murataya got a little bit too comfortable,
19:31and Abdullayev reminded him,
19:32hey, I'm a world-class fighter too.
19:44Good job.
19:49Again, you see subtle movement.
19:51Again, back on that back foot by Murataya.
19:54There it is again.
19:57That lead hand is down as well.
19:59That right hand can sneak him right over the top.
20:04Listen for the bell, guys.
20:06Right there.
20:14Don't get lazy trying to do something different.
20:25Don't fucking steal your words.
20:27Get away from me.
20:27All right.
20:36He connects.
20:37Back to defense.
20:38Remember, you have here, here.
20:44Change it up.
20:45Okay?
20:47Yeah?
20:48Three or four punches together, all right?
20:51How do you feel condition-wise?
20:53Good.
20:53All right, then.
20:53Let's go, all right?
20:56Fifth coming up.
20:57Fifth or sixth?
20:58Six coming up.
20:59Okay.
21:00Okay, let's go.
21:00We're going to go half-waste, all right?
21:02So let's go.
21:02Okay?
21:03Keep popping your fucking jack, bro.
21:08Round six of the scheduled 12-round World Championship fight.
21:15Bernardo Osuna alongside the Hall of Famer, Timothy Bradley.
21:18Both fighters making adjustments.
21:20Check out the Philly shell.
21:21Got that lead hand in the sling right there.
21:23Didn't get that shoulder up quick enough.
21:25Boom.
21:25Gets hit with the right hand and gets hit with it again.
21:29Beautiful shot right there from Abbott Live.
21:32Way to recognize the guard change from Murataya and taking advantage of it.
21:38See if Abott Live can get those hands going behind that jab that he's able to land right there
21:42and sets up a right to the body.
21:45Now, Murataya answers.
21:47Yeah, that's the same guard that Floyd Mayweather made famous, you know,
21:53where he rolls that shoulder inside and he lifts it up to be able to block right hands
21:59and deflect right hands.
22:01That time, Murataya using it, you can use it well.
22:05I'll tell you that much.
22:09Look, I noticed all that glitter on his legs, on Murataya's legs, and all over his body.
22:14Because look at his trunks.
22:14Worry about it, you know, that glitter getting in the eyes.
22:23Yeah.
22:23You know what I'm saying?
22:24Gloves.
22:25Yeah, exactly.
22:26If he rubs the gloves on his trunks, look at you, Sim.
22:31That's why you're the best in the business.
22:33I appreciate you.
22:33It's those small nuances that can affect the fight.
22:37Yeah, absolutely.
22:38Right now, the nuances of Abdullayev getting a little bit more busy behind that jab.
22:43And you can see him get a little bit more busy,
22:44and you're starting to see him get a little bit more comfortable now
22:46with the speed and the power of Murataya.
22:51And he's starting to get confidence, starting to gain more confidence.
22:54This body shot from Murataya.
22:55That's one thing we haven't seen much of in this fight.
22:58Only 13 body shots from Murataya compared to 24 for Abdullayev.
23:03For your roots, young man.
23:07Yeah.
23:08So you got what Abdullayev is doing is every now and then he's punching with Murataya
23:13or he's punching directly afterwards.
23:15Now, if I'm Murataya, what I'm doing is I'm going to have something in my back pocket.
23:19I'm going to punch.
23:19I know he's going to punch.
23:21Then I'm going to make a miss and then counter him again.
23:23So I'm going to counter the counter of Abdullayev.
23:26That's being two steps ahead of your opposition.
23:28The jab from Abdullayev after two missed and that's it.
23:38You see that exactly.
23:39Caught him when he was out of position.
23:41Threw a combination.
23:42Didn't have Abdullayev.
23:42Comes right back.
23:44You got to make that second, that counter.
23:46You got to make that miss and you got to counter.
23:49Make a miss and fill the holes.
23:51Do it well to go to the body with that jab.
24:05And it opens up combinations.
24:10Halfway through this fight.
24:11Give me an uppercut.
24:23Those uppercuts are hurting him.
24:25His nose is bleeding already.
24:26That means they're hurting him.
24:27So jab, jab.
24:29And then you step in with a double jab, right hand.
24:31And then give me that left to the body or left uppercut.
24:34Okay?
24:35When you're on the outside, look for those hooks behind the gloves.
24:38Yeah.
24:38And then the uppercuts after that.
24:40Okay?
24:41You're good?
24:42And your body's right there.
24:43But do it when you're close, not four.
24:44When you're close, don't do it.
24:52You got to give me defense right away.
24:54You throw the one-two, you got to give me defense again, okay?
25:00You go for the body.
25:02Go for the body.
25:04Deep breath.
25:05Through the first half of the fight,
25:06we see that Muretaya landing at an exact same percentage as Abdullayev,
25:12but he's landed 19 more punches.
25:15Abdullayev with the lead in body punches.
25:17What I did notice is up to round four,
25:20Abdullayev was landing,
25:21actually Muretaya was landing at 42% clip with his power punches.
25:24Now he's at 34% compared to 32% for Abdullayev.
25:29Abdullayev is landing more body shots.
25:31So, look, this is the first 12-round fight of Muretaya.
25:36And he can pay some good dividends on the back stretch.
25:40As you know, body shots start to wear your opposition down.
25:44Starts to siphon their gas tank,
25:45take their legs away from them,
25:47and punching power.
25:47So, we'll see.
25:49And we've talked about that late power of Zohar Abdullayev
25:52with those two 12th-round knockouts.
25:54Unknown territory for Muretaya.
25:58Nicknamed Danger,
25:59but if it gets to that spot,
26:01he may be the one in danger against Abdullayev.
26:04Abdullayev is like a fighter that,
26:09hey, he's going to wear you down.
26:11You know, as long as he's in the fight,
26:13he's going to wear you down.
26:14You know, he can be behind in the fight.
26:15He's never going to be discouraged.
26:17He's going to be always on you,
26:19putting that pressure on you,
26:20coming behind that jab like he's doing.
26:22And again, he's looking for you to weaken.
26:25That's why he uses that stab jab,
26:27so that way, later in the fight,
26:29he can take advantage of it.
26:30Mark Kregel,
26:31what are they saying in Abdullayev's corner?
26:35Edgar Yasso says,
26:36listen, I need him to start going to the body
26:39so we can wear him down,
26:40we can take him to deep waters.
26:41That's our shot.
26:43That's exactly what Tim has been analyzing.
26:47That's somewhere that Raymond Muratai has never been.
26:50You know that he feels ready and conditioned for 12 rounds,
26:53but you don't know until you've been there.
26:55Yeah, absolutely right.
26:56I mean, you go 12 rounds probably two or three times
26:59before you actually come out here and do it,
27:01but you still, you being a fighter
27:03and never doing it for the first time,
27:04you're still kind of skeptical about it.
27:06And you want to make sure you manage the rounds well
27:10and manage your energy.
27:11But so far,
27:12he's letting Abdullayev back in the fight.
27:14Exactly.
27:14And that's my point.
27:16The last two rounds have been Abdullayev rounds.
27:19And Abdullayev is the type of fighter that gets,
27:21as the fight goes on,
27:22he starts going downhill
27:23and he starts gaining more and more confidence
27:25and he's going to put more and more pressure
27:27and start letting his hands go.
27:28You do not want to let him get momentum going.
27:31No, you don't.
27:32That's where he's at his best.
27:33Absolutely.
27:41You know, this is not a physical game.
27:43This is just not a physical sport.
27:44Just physical.
27:45It's mental as well.
27:48You know, it's your will.
27:50It gets my will.
27:52That's what it is.
27:52Now, if I can kill your will to fight,
27:54I have the advantage, right?
27:58But it's also a chess match in there.
28:00It is.
28:00I'm going to adjust.
28:02What are you going to counter to my adjustment
28:04and how am I going to react to the adjustment
28:06that you're going to make to my counter?
28:09Solid shots from Morataya.
28:12Falling for Abdullayev here in round number seven.
28:17Nice right hand from Abdullayev.
28:18Maybe enough to win the round.
28:30Good morning.
28:32Good morning.
28:32Good morning.
29:22This is a game of adjustments, and Tim, both Murataya and Abdullayev adjusted to each other's counters there in round seven.
29:30Another excellent counter punch by Murataya with the right hand.
29:37Again, just dipping underneath, squatting, boom, coming with a counter.
29:40But again, where's the second punch at?
29:43You know, I've seen the single counters.
29:44Where's the second punch?
29:46And then Abdullayev right there making Murataya pay for, again, having that lead hand out at mid-range.
29:52Boom, exposing that left side, and boom, hitting him with that right hand.
29:57Murataya threw nine punches more than Abdullayev, who landed two more punches than Murataya in round number seven.
30:03In terms of jabs, Timmy, that was going to be a key for Abdullayev in this fight.
30:13And you see that he throws almost 31 in previous fights.
30:17Tonight, he's under 20.
30:19And for Murataya, he's above his jab average of 23.2 by two per round.
30:25So, you beat a jabber with the jab, and you take away that best weapon.
30:30You can beat the jab.
30:31You can beat a jabber with the jab.
30:33Also, you can throw that right hand and make him stop throwing.
30:39Not only to the hand, but you can also throw the right hand down to the body.
30:42And as you saw right there, Murataya sneaking that right hand downstairs.
30:51Murataya needs to be creative again like he was earlier in this fight.
30:57Because Abdullayev is predictable but effective.
31:00He's efficient with his work again, and he's patient.
31:06And he's been in fights where he's been down, and he knows he's down.
31:10But he's just waiting on you to, again, lose focus, get tired, and then he starts to pour it on.
31:19He's straight right from Murataya that Abdullayev eats and says, I'll have another.
31:30You also got to make, you know, take into account those guys from Dagestan.
31:34They're built different.
31:35They are.
31:35They are.
31:36I'm not going to lie.
31:36They surely are.
31:37When I fought Ruvan Pavadnikov, my gosh.
31:40I was like, man, what are you eating, man?
31:42Just eating fish raw out of the sea over there?
31:45Like, he was strong.
31:46Strongest fighter I've ever been to ring with.
31:48Stronger than Manny Pacquiao.
31:50Absolutely.
31:50Punch harder than Manny Pacquiao.
31:51Yes.
31:52Different places in the former USSR.
31:57Siberia.
31:58Dagestan.
31:59But all have that different type of hunger.
32:03Genetic, man.
32:08Good uppercuts under Murataya there.
32:12Pop shot from the outside.
32:13Pop shot from the outside.
32:14Single shots.
32:18Nice uppercut there from Murataya at the end of round eight.
32:29Good up.
32:29Good up.
32:50Good up.
32:50Good up.
32:50Good up.
33:21Ready for round nine of Raymond Murataya, Zahra Abdullaya for the interim IBF lightweight title.
33:32Mark Fregel, what does your unofficial scorecard look like through eight?
33:3778, 74, six rounds to two.
33:40I do think, you know, these are where Abdullaya distinguishes himself.
33:44These late grinding rounds.
33:46He gets into that 12.
33:47But he's got to start going to the body, like Gasol said.
33:51And when you look at Raymond Murataya, his money shot this fight, Tim, has been the uppercut.
33:57Uppercut coming around that guard with the left hook, right hand, and then sneaking that uppercut, splitting the guard of Abdullaya.
34:05Again, the creativity.
34:07That's important in this fight, creativity.
34:09Because, again, I like Abdullaya, high amateur pedigree.
34:13You know, he's been at the top of the amateur circuit.
34:15He's seen different styles.
34:17He's a smart fighter.
34:20You've got to be creative with your offense when you're facing a guy like that.
34:24And this is where now Murataya starts to think about being in unknown territory.
34:29The latest knockout he's ever had in his pro career was a ninth-round stoppage against Humberto Galindo, March of 2023.
34:36He's got an eighth-round stoppage as well in his career against undefeated Diego Torres that same year.
34:44So this is now where he starts to think, okay, what do I have in 10, 11, and 12?
34:51Or he's not thinking.
34:53He's just in there fighting.
34:55That's the best case scenario.
34:56That's what you're supposed to do.
34:57You shouldn't be sitting there thinking about, I'm going to be able to go 12 rounds.
35:01No, you're just in there fighting.
35:04Do your job round by round, second by second, minute by minute, which seems to be his mindset.
35:11It better, I mean, look, it better be, I would love to see a little bit more offense coming from Murataya, to be honest with you.
35:19A little bit more accommodations again, and being ready and set for return fire and set him up with something.
35:26Know that.
35:26We know that Abdullayev is trying to set Murataya up for the one-two.
35:32The right hand.
35:32He wants the right hand.
35:33He's sitting down hard on that right hand.
35:36But it comes behind the jab always.
35:38He hasn't thrown a lead right.
35:40And you see him starting to move his hand.
35:42You see the movement twitching his hand, Abdullayev, that right hand.
35:46That's what he wants.
35:46Nice uppercut again.
35:47Those uppercuts, yeah.
35:49Absolutely.
35:49Open him up and come around the guard.
35:51See, if Murataya going to get this knockout tonight, he's going to have to go downstairs.
35:56He's going to have to get to the liver, the outside.
36:00Because Abdullayev has taken the best shot already, the right hand.
36:04He's taken his best shot.
36:06Only 24 body shots landed so far for Raymond Murataya out of 96.
36:11We see a little bit more combination punching from the California base fighter.
36:16Nothing spectacular here in round number nine so far.
36:23This bout is scheduled for 12.
36:25Mmm.
36:25Mmm.
36:26Mmm.
36:26Oh, my God.
36:56We'll see you next time.
37:26round 10 here inside the Pechanga Arena in San Diego California this ring once
37:38hosted in North victory over Muhammad Ali so big names have been in this venue
37:45and it's a big night for Raymond Muratai his first world title opportunity
37:49against that were up to live who last time he fought for a belt against Devin
37:53Haney was stopped due to a fractured orbital bone so that happened early in
37:57the fight in fourth round so so far a better experience for Abdullaev against
38:02Murataiya you see the power punches landed by around the most landed were in round
38:08eight in favor of Murataiya with eight compared to four for his opponent and
38:13he's doubled up at 53 to 25 but this is where Abdullaev believes he can start
38:19getting to Murataiya and he ain't like he got to throw punches yes that's what he
38:24got to do he got to let his hands go look you came up short in your first
38:28attempts for World Championship you've earned your way back to this
38:31championship it's like come on I mean look you got two rounds to go son two
38:38rounds to go step on the gas let your hands go it's like you got to get out of
38:45your comfort zone man you got to settle out you got to go for it if he lets his
38:49hands go I promise you he's gonna have success promise you
39:00if you're one of the other title is like you're looking at Murataiya as a potential
39:05unification fight differently if he wins tonight based on this performance
39:11absolutely not I'm salivating I'm salivating well that's what I'm saying
39:17because before he was danger and then every no one was calling out his name you
39:20think after tonight maybe people start calling out his name oh absolutely they
39:24don't want that smoke because this is a guy that's again he's a smart fighter
39:28however he's directly in front of you you know pretty simple with his offense
39:32basic with his offense yeah everybody watching especially in the 140 pound a 135
39:37pound division saying oh he ain't so bad he can get rid of this guy Devin Haney got
39:43rid of this guy broke his orbital bone all right in that two box you see Charlie
39:48Suarez the undefeated 36 year old Filipino number one contender who will be
39:53challenging Emanuel Navarrete who had weight issues making 130 pounds and this
39:59young man has Olympic pedigree he's a guy with good feet quick explosive hands and that
40:07is an intriguing match-up for tonight's main event
40:11person for the bell guys ready for the S go
41:39The title between Raymond Murataya and the blue and gold trunks and Zahur Abdullayev in the red trunks trimmed in black.
41:49Navarrete is all gas, no brakes.
41:53And Charlie Suarez, well, he thinks he's got something for the champion.
41:57Here, let's see what the championship rounds look like.
42:0111 and 12.
42:02Will Zahur Abdullayev give it one last run against Raymond Murataya?
42:07Jeffrey Thomas Taylor not liking Murataya jousting with that jab.
42:11That's a nice straight right from Abdullayev in a combination.
42:15You know what I don't like from Abdullayev?
42:18He has no kind of arc.
42:19Oh, right uppercut from Murataya.
42:21No arcs, no whatsoever.
42:23He's a one-two puncher.
42:24I mean, I'm waiting.
42:25Can he throw a left hook or a right hook or something?
42:28I mean, something other than a straight one-two.
42:32And yet it was enough to catch Murataya's attention,
42:34who came back with a quick combination in that right uppercut,
42:38which has been his best punch tonight.
42:43Look, Abdullayev described Murataya this way.
42:46He said, I have observed Murataya in the way he fights,
42:51and he doesn't do anything bad, but he doesn't do anything great.
42:55Okay.
42:59What do you do great?
43:00Because you're getting beat right now.
43:02He threw a left hook.
43:04After live, dude.
43:06Was that a left hook?
43:07Yeah.
43:08Hit the gloves partially.
43:10Look, look.
43:10He threw it.
43:12You got Murataya now.
43:15He's starting to see everything come.
43:17Everything is starting to come slow to him now.
43:19He's ahead of everything.
43:21He's used to what's coming at him.
43:23He's sitting in the pocket, looking at him waiting,
43:24and subtle movement left and right.
43:26You look at him on the commit.
43:27Let's see.
43:28Oh, now finding a hook.
43:30About time.
43:33Look at that.
43:36Being smooth.
43:37Nice little body shot.
43:38Good left hook from Abdullayev right there.
43:41Change.
43:42Finally changed it up a bit, right?
43:43But I'm just watching the comfort level of Murataya right now,
43:53being at mid-range.
43:54He's comfortable.
43:56Doesn't seem to be phased at all.
44:02Yeah, he doesn't have that third weapon that Tim Bradley had inside the ring.
44:06It's just a one-two, and it allows you to throw that uppercut.
44:10Some nice uppercut.
44:16Oh, nice double jab from Murataya.
44:18Stapping the head of Abdullayev.
44:21Up jabs.
44:22Easy work.
44:24That's Murataya saying, that's your strength.
44:26Well, I'm going to beat you at your strength.
44:28Nice body work and an uppercut from Murataya starting to open up here in round 11
44:33and starting to believe he has what it takes to be a champion.
44:40Blood streaming from the nose of Zaur Abdullayev.
44:43Let's listen to Abdullayev.
44:44This is your world champion, all right?
44:45Don't make mistakes, all right?
44:48The way you did this round was beautiful.
44:50You're fucking breaking them apart, all right?
44:52Smart, okay?
44:53Stay smart.
44:57Good?
44:58That's a great round from Raymond Murataya there.
45:05Spamming the uppercuts on the inside, absolutely, against that high guard.
45:09Oh, beautiful shot right there.
45:11You see the legs buckle a little bit from Abdullayev.
45:19Good body shot right there, and rolled underneath.
45:22That's textbook from Murataya, and two jab, up jabs,
45:27splitting the guard, coming from a different level with a different angle.
45:34Nice up, jabs, split that guard.
45:36Mark Kriegel, your unofficial scorecard before the 12th and final round.
45:40One away, one-on-one, Abdullayev needs a knock, Edgar Yasser says, my guy's making a miss.
45:48He ain't making a bang.
45:50And Murataya coming out strong here in round number 12.
45:55Abdullayev has only landed double-digit connects in round 6 and 7, and that was 10 and 11 punches landed.
46:01But he does have two career 12-round knockouts, so he's still dangerous.
46:10And he believes he can get it right now, absolutely.
46:12But it would be crazy because Murataya cannot allow that to happen.
46:19I mean, he's winning this fight handily.
46:23And he really, to be honest with you, all he has to do is get through this round.
46:26He's got the fight in the bag.
46:27And if I was in this corner, I'd just say, hey, man, take chances when you need to.
46:33Just box, play defense, use your jab, win the round.
46:37However, don't expose yourself.
46:40Be smart with your defense.
46:41We've got a championship that we just won.
46:44Nice lead right there from Murataya.
46:49Abdullayev still working behind the jab.
46:57Nice body shot from Murataya with the right.
47:06And then the roll under.
47:06Yep.
47:11Top of the left.
47:12Defense.
47:14Good defense.
47:18I don't know that one.
47:20Murataya, the southpaw stance here.
47:22The last minute, 20 seconds.
47:23He's been so effective this round with the orthodox stance.
47:26Yeah, he's in total control, though.
47:28His eyes.
47:28His eyes tell the story for me.
47:30You see his movement.
47:31He's smooth with it.
47:33Making him miss all these punches.
47:34Got his timing down.
47:38It's almost like he knows what he's going to do before he even does it.
47:42Got a little swagger to him here around 12.
47:44Oh, yeah.
47:44So no questioning his physical condition for this fight.
47:49Nice right there.
47:49Oh, not at all.
47:50Not at all.
47:52Good left hand.
47:53He boxed his smart this round.
47:58That's exactly what Murataya needs right here.
48:01That's a nice right hand from Murataya.
48:02After the last take the more chances.
48:05Now, wherever he's opened himself up now.
48:07But he's been able to connect with the right here in the final seconds of this 12th round.
48:11And half a minute left to determine who will be the new interim IBF lightweight world champion.
48:17So far, it looks like Murataya is on his way.
48:20But Abdullayev has 20 seconds to change that with a beautiful right-left combination from Murataya.
48:32Too little, too late from Zawur Abdullayev here as the clap for the tiny 10 seconds.
48:39A new champion will be crowned.
48:42Is it a man they call danger or is it Zawur Abdullayev?
48:46It comes down to how the judges saw this fight.
48:57Did they like the effective aggressiveness of Raymond Murataya who landed on 26% of his total punches compared to 19% for Abdullayev?
49:07There's a lot of experience in Dennis O'Connell, David Southerman, and look at Steve Weisfeld.
49:12Almost 3,000 fights.
49:14So we're talking about 4,500 fights between them.
49:18And, you know, some solid judges.
49:21And let's take a look at some of the best action from this world title fight, Timmy.
49:27It was Murataya's night tonight.
49:29You know, I told you, we're out the gate.
49:30We looked sharp.
49:32Landing in his combinations.
49:34Good counterpunching.
49:36You know, he went downstairs, upstairs.
49:37I mean, he did a little bit of everything.
49:40Abdullayev, Abdullayev was strong in spots, used his jab well, especially down to the body.
49:46He had a couple of occasional right hands over the top.
49:50Catching Murataya while he was sleeping, while he was sleeping.
49:54However, I mean, I thought it was an easy fight.
49:56I mean, an easy fight to judge.
49:58You know, I feel there's no doubt in my mind that Murataya won this fight tonight.
50:02Congratulations to him and his team.
50:03I know the scorecards haven't been read yet.
50:07However, I thought it was a pretty easy fight for a guy like Murataya.
50:12He's extremely skillful, talented.
50:15And tonight, like you said, it's his night.
50:17Sometimes the numbers tell a story.
50:19140 landed compared to 87 for Abdullayev.
50:23The comparison also, the body shots is where Abdullayev really shined.
50:27And we expected it to be the Japs for Abdullayev.
50:29But you also have to look at the faces.
50:31And they tell the story of the fight.
50:34And you can see the demeanor.
50:36They do tell a story.
50:37However, just to let you know, fights are not judged on damage.
50:42They're not judged on the way a fighter's face looks.
50:44They're just judged on the effective punches being laid.
50:47All right, before we get the official scorecard,
50:50let's go to Mark Kriegel for his unofficial scorecard.
50:531-18, 1-10.
50:57Murataya was not just a quicker fighter, but the guy with more imagination.
51:01Let's send it up to the classy Jimmy Lennon Jr.
51:04for the official decision from the judges.
51:07Ladies and gentlemen, after 12 rounds of action,
51:10we have a unanimous decision.
51:11Here the score totals.
51:13Judge at ringside Steve Weisfeld scores about 118 to 110.
51:18Judges Dennis O'Connell and David Sutherland both scored about 119 to 109.
51:26All three in favor of the winner by way of unanimous decision.
51:31And he is now the interim IBF lightweight world champion,
51:35Raymond Danger Murataya.
51:44Southern California has a new champion.
51:47He's the interim IBF title holder.