Lightweight contender Raymond Muratalla doesn’t want to be known as an email champion, a phrase that’s come with much stigma in recent years. The 28-year-old from West Covina, California, wants to take a title away from the champion in the ring.

For now, he can only control the cards he carries, and the hand will begin to play out Saturday when Muratalla (22-0, 17 KOs) faces Zaur Abdullaev (20-1, 12 KOs) for the interim IBF lightweight title at Pechanga Arena in San Diego as the co-main event for a Top Rank card on ESPN.

If Muratalla wins, he’ll be in prime position to challenge for IBF champion Vasiliy Lomachenko’s title. But Lomachenko has been non-committal to continuing his career over the last year.

“Getting to fight Loma would be crazy. That'll be huge for me and my career. That's what I’m looking forward to,” Muratalla told The Ring.

“I hope he comes back. That will be a fight the fans want to see. It'll be a huge fight and a great fight due to our styles.

“I'm a fighter and I want nothing but big fights. Hopefully I can get any of the champions. As far as I'm concerned, Loma is next. That's what I'm fighting for, but my main focus is on Abdullaev.”

Lomachenko must make a title defense by Oct. 8, an IBF spokesperson told The Ring. If Lomachenko doesn't make his plans clear in the coming months, on Aug. 8, the IBF will order negotiations to begin between Lomachenko and the winner between Muratalla-Abdullaev.

But the proceedings will be a moot point for Muratalla if he can’t get past Abdullaev, whose only career loss came to Devin Haney in a fourth-round knockout in 2019. The 31-year-old Russian has since landed nine wins in a row against the likes of Roger Gutierrez and Jorge Linares.

“He's definitely going to be tough,” said Muratalla. “He's coming to fight. He's strong and durable. I think it's going to be a good fight. I can't wait to put on a show for everybody.

“I’m super excited. I’m motivated and feeling great about it. This is something that we've been training for my whole career. It's a huge opportunity for me and my team.

“I feel great right now. I feel I’m at my best. It's about time.”