“After my last fight, the boxing world really knew who I was,” Muratalla said. “People saw me as an underdog even though I was the champion and I showed that I couldn’t be underestimated.

“Now I’m defending my title against another Olympic gold medalist and I plan to look even better. I’m focused, ready and I’ll take care of things on August 1.”

Conceição is looking to regain his world champion status after previously holding the WBC junior lightweight championship.

“They said it was impossible when I dreamed of winning an Olympic gold medal,” Conceição said. “They said that when I fought for my first world title, I achieved both and it’s no different now.

“I have great respect for Raymond Muratalla, but I am ready for this challenge. I want to prove that determination, experience and the heart of a champion are able to overcome any obstacle.

“On August 1, I will fight for myself, my family and all of Brazil.”

Muratalla enters the fight undefeated with a record of 24-0 and 17 knockouts. The California native was elevated to full IBF champion following the retirement of Vasily Lomachenko, and most recently defended his title following a decision victory over Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz in February.

Conceição (21-3-1, 10 knockouts) became the first Brazilian Olympic boxing gold medalist at the 2016 Games. The 37-year-old won the WBC junior lightweight title by defeating O’Shaquie Foster in July 2024 before losing the belt in a rematch later that year.

Top president Todd duBoef believes the fight will be a forceful addition to the August installment of “The Fight” series.

“Raymond Muratalla has established himself as one of the best lightweights in the world. His recent decisive victory over Andy Cruz reinforced his elite status in boxing,” said duBoef.

“The upcoming defense against Olympic gold medalist and former world champion Robson Conceição will keep fans entertained from the first bell.”

Terence Crawford, under trainer Brian “BoMac” McIntyre, fought undefeated 42 times before retiring slow last year. Are there any fights left on the table?

The switch-hitter from Omaha, Nebraska won the world championship in five divisions – undisputed in two – and established himself as the best player of the generation. His swan song was a jump in weight to defeat Mexican icon Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

Crawford is content in his retirement and, unlike many of his peers, he seems to find it uncomplicated to resist returning to the ring. While his skill level is undeniable, a criticism that has been leveled at him from the likes of Canelo and Ryan Garcia is that he doesn’t have many elite names on his record.

I keep talking podcast on the home page“BoMac” was asked if there was any fighter Crawford would like to face in his career, perhaps to further cement his legacy, and without hesitation he mentioned Manny Pacquiao.

“Manny Pacquiao. That would be great.”

Why it didn’t happen McIntyre says promoter Bob Arum, who worked with both fighters when the fight made the most sense, blocked it.

“Vertical [Arum] I just said it the other day. He stopped because he knew how this fight would end. [Pacquiao] he was a cash cow… He didn’t want to spoil the money.”

Crawford previously revealed that he had been pushing for a fight with Pacquiao back in 2015, when he was on his way to becoming the super lightweight world champion, but there were indeed other occasions in the following years where it might have made sense.

Interestingly, “PacMan” also pointed to Crawford as the one who escaped, but he believes that it was Arum who protected the American and not the other way around.

While it appears “Bud” will remain retired, Pacquiao’s career is heading in the opposite direction. The Filipino returned to the professional ranks last year, fighting to a draw with then-WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios. This year, he plans to have a rematch with Floyd Mayweather, although the details of the event are not yet known.

Ortiz claims the sessions took place at De La Hoya’s training camp in Large Bear, where he was invited to aid prepare the boxing superstar for what turned out to be the last fight of his career.

“So I get to training camp in Large Bear. This is my first time talking about this, so Oscar, if I offend you, hey, the truth will set you free,” Ortiz told Fighthype.

“Boom, I say, ‘OK, that’s an effortless jab,’ he throws a straight right. Boom. I dropped him, he kneels.”

“I’m like, ‘Check this out, I’ll finish him off.’ Nacho says, ‘Why are you hitting him so difficult?’ I’m like, ‘I’m working with this guy, he’s a 10-time world champion.’ What are you talking about? Boom again. It’s falling again. He leaves the ring, takes all his stuff and leaves.”

If Ortiz’s memories are right, time may explain what happened.

By the end of 2008, De La Hoya was no longer a fighter who had won Olympic gold and won world titles in multiple weight classes. Golden Boy has already built a Hall of Fame career and has become one of boxing’s biggest crossover stars.

Many observers believe that its decline began many years earlier. De La Hoya lost a decision to Shane Mosley in 2003 and avoided a controversial unanimous decision over Felix Sturm in 2004. A fight that many fans thought was lost. Later that year, Bernard Hopkins stopped him with a body shot in the ninth round.

The weight problem could have made the situation worse. De La Hoya fought at 154 pounds and even fought at middleweight before agreeing to face Pacquiao at welterweight. According to reports, the 35-year-old penultimate to the division went on a diet instead of relying on classic weight loss at the end of the event, which made him look particularly slim at the weigh-in.

Pacquiao dominated the fight eight months after De La Hoya’s victory over Steve Forbes, forcing his corner to stop the fight after the eighth round. De La Hoya announced his departure the following year.

Meanwhile, Ortiz was a youthful fighter entering peak physical condition. In 2011, he won the WBC welterweight title after defeating Andre Berto.