Preliminary accounts alluded to Muratalla moving on from 135 pounds, but not only is the IBF champion sticking around in the weight class, he has plans on taking it over.

Muratalla (24-0, 17 KOs) is set to defend his crown against Robson Conceicao (21-3-1, 10 KOs) on August 1 at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. Although Muratalla is promoted by Top Rank, their fight will take place as part of a Golden Boy card streamed worldwide by DAZN and televised by TNT in the United States as part of the network’s new monthly boxing series, “The Fight.”

The show will be headlined by the bout between Lamont Roach (25-1-3, 10 KOs) and William Zepeda (33-1, 27 KOs) for the vacant WBC lightweight title.

The expectation is that the winners would square off next in a title unification bout.

“I’m super thankful that this fight is happening, and that these networks and promotions are able to work together,” Muratalla said during a press conference Tuesday. “I’m excited for August 1 and ready to put on a show. I think the fans are going to love it.”

Muratalla, of Fontana, California, is ranked No. 2 by The Ring in the lightweight division after scoring a career-best decision win against Andy Cruz in January. Brazil’s Conceicao, a former 130-pound titleholder and 2016 Olympic gold medalist, is a step down in competition from Cruz, but this is a match Muratalla needed to make.

“He was the only one that said yes – simple as that,” Muratalla said. “I want to be active and keep fighting, so whoever says yes is who I am taking. … I go out there, and I show my skills. I’m not afraid of whoever they put in front of me. I’m there to do one thing, and that’s to win. I think the fans recognize that I am serious about this, and I come out to win and show my talent.”

As Muratalla maintains interest in the result of Roach-Zepeda, the rest of the division’s title picture is also evolving quickly.

Abdullah Mason is set to defend his WBO crown for the first time against Joe Cordina in a homecoming fight July 4 in Cleveland on July 4. The WBA, meanwhile, has ordered a fight between its titleholder, Gervonta Davis, and Floyd Schofield Jr.

Muratalla plans on remaining in the picture no matter how the pieces to the puzzle come together.

“I am definitely looking forward to taking over the division,” Muratalla said. “It’s looking great for me. I’m feeling great. Hopefully, there are big fights coming for me, and that’s what I am headed for.

“There are great potential fights. They are all fights that fans want to see, and that I want. I am looking forward to putting on a performance against Conceicao to get these fights.”

Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan.