Top Rank Boxing for August 12: Raymond Muratalla vs. Diego Torres as Co-Feature to Emanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdez

By: Kirk Jackson

The hot summer month of August brings to the public not only a championship bout as the main event, but opportunities for fighters aiming to establish themselves as the top guys in their respective divisions in the near future.

Undefeated contender Raymond “Danger” Muratalla (18-0, 15 KO’s), coming off a victory over Jeremia Nakathila, disposing of him in two rounds this past May, makes his third appearance of 2023, in a 10-round clash against unbeaten Mexican standout Diego Torres (17-0, 16 KO’s) on Saturday, August 12 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. 

Muratalla-Torres will serve as the co-feature to the junior lightweight title match-up between WBO world champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete and former two-division world champion Oscar Valdez. 

While Valdez headlines the main event against Navarrete, the U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (5-0, 5 KO’s), opens the televised tripleheader in a six-round heavyweight bout against Willie Jake Jr.

This beckons to be a great opportunity for the young, developing American.

Pivoting back to Muratalla, he is aiming to become a major threat in this stacked lightweight division.

He made his pro debut in 2016 in Mexico, and two years later he debuted in the U.S. He stopped 12 of his last 13 opponents and may get placed in a position to book a fight with one of the notable lightweights under the Top Rank promotional banner.

Muratalla said, “I couldn’t be more excited to get back in that ring on such a great card. I can’t wait to put on another great performance for the fans. I believe this is my time now, and I will continue to show the hard work that’s being put in.”

The other Torres on the card, is Diego Torres, an undefeated fighter 25-year-old from Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico.

The oldest of four boxing brothers, he began his pro career in 2019 and unleashed a streak of 13 knockout victories. In February 2022, he took on fellow Zapopon native Jonathan Escobedo Martinez, going the 10-round distance for the first time in an all-action contest. In his last fight, he beat Jose Segura Torres via fifth-round TKO in March.

“I am very excited about this fight. I think this is a big opportunity for me,” Torres said.

“Fighting against another undefeated fighter is something that I was looking for. It is my way of showing that I am made for this, and I am here to achieve great things. I am not afraid. I’m going to give it my all and come out with a great victory.”

A world title fight, and a glimpse at potential future world title fighters as the other featured bouts of the evening. Sounds like a solid event in the hot summer month of August.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets starting at $50 are on sale at Ticketmaster.com.

Navarrete-Valdez, Muratalla-Torres, and Torrez-Jake will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.