Robert Garcia says Shakur Stevenson wanted to drain Raymond Muratalla to 135lb

Muratalla's trainer says Stevenson wanted their fight at 135lb while talking to Devin Haney about a 144-145lb catchweight, and that the WBO order now means he must fight Muratalla or vacate.

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published Thu 29 Oct, 01:06 UK · AI-assisted reporting

Robert Garcia on Shakur Stevenson: draining Raymond Muratalla to 135 — Original graphic: Combat Sports UK

Robert Garcia says Shakur Stevenson wanted to face Raymond Muratalla at 135lb to gain an advantage from draining him, while Stevenson was talking to Devin Haney about a catchweight of 144 or 145lb.

Garcia, who trains Muratalla, said in a video interview that Stevenson told him he wanted the fight when he came to Garcia's gym. Muratalla had a fight against Conceicao first, and Garcia said everybody knew that would be his last fight at 135lb before he moved up to 140lb.

"What I was told by people that are with him, that he didn't want to fight at 140, that he wanted the fight at 135," Garcia said. "So then I see him, you know, talking to Haney about a 144, 145 catchweight fight. So then if he wants to fight Haney at 145, but he doesn't want to fight us at 140, he wants to drop us to 135."

He added: "I think he wanted to take that little advantage of draining Raymond to 135 and have that advantage."

Garcia said Muratalla went straight to 140lb instead. "The WBO put us at number 1, so now we're his mandatory," he said. "So now the fight has to happen or else he has to vacate."

The WBO has ordered Stevenson to defend his junior welterweight title against Muratalla next, though no date or venue has been named. Stevenson was released by Zuffa Boxing after the promotion tried to make a fight with Haney and says he is now a free agent.