Lomachenko vs. Muratalla or Abdullaev: Mandate of the IBF

IBF lightweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko has been granted a medical exception by the sanctioning body to retain his title.

Judgment of the IBF

Meanwhile, the IBF has ordered No. 2 Raymond Muratalla and No. 4 Zaur Abdullaev to fight for the interim 135-pound belt. Lomachencheko (18-3, 12 KOs) must defend his IBF title against the winner of Muratalla-Abdullaev before October 8 to retain his belt.

It’s a tough decision Lomachenko, 36, has to make because he needs his IBF title to help his bargaining position for a unification fight against WBA champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis.

However, there is no money for Loma to fight the winner of the Muratallev vs. Abdullaev fight because neither is known to casual boxing fans. Also, it would be a brutal fight for Lomachenko if Muratalla (22-0, 17 KOs) is who he ends up facing. This guy can hit and is one of the most dangerous lightweights in the division.

If the IBF allows Lomachenko to bypass the winner so he can fight Tank, it would be a way to have to fight Muratalla-Abdullaev.

Abdullaev (20-1, 12 KOs) has won his last nine fights since suffering his only career loss, losing to Devin Haney by fourth-round stoppage on September 13, 2019. Haney earned the perfect shot to get the knockout in that fight. . Had they fought a rematch, Abdullaev probably would have beaten Haney because he was doing well before he was stopped.