Raymond Muratalla and Zaur Abdullaev found all the common ground necessary to put a bow on their extended talks.

The Ring has confirmed that a deal was reached for the long-discussed interim IBF lightweight title fight. Muratalla and Abdullaev will meet on a May 10 ESPN-branded show in San Diego, California.

Lance Pugmire was the first to report the new date.

The winner will either become the mandatory challenger to the full IBF title or receive an automatic upgrade.

Either way, their bout will now take place 52 weeks from when current titlist Vasiliy Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) was crowned. The Ring’s No. 2 lightweight has not fought since an eleventh-round knockout of George Kambosos (21-3, 10 KOs) to win the vacant IBF title last May 12 in Perth, Western Australia.

Lomachenko’s extended ring absence prompted the IBF to grant approval for an interim title fight.

Muratalla (22-0, 17 KOs), The Ring’s No. 7 lightweight, and Abdullaev (20-1, 12 KOs) opened talks on Jan. 8 when the IBF first ordered their bout. Top Rank (Muratalla) and RCC Boxing (Abdullaev) continued to work feverishly to reach a deal and avoid a purse bid hearing.

It nearly didn’t take, as the IBF needed more proof than was provided at the Jan. 23 deadline. The fight was assigned to a Feb. 4 purse bid hearing, but postponed indefinitely upon request from both sides.

The good faith act did not disappoint.

Abdullaev’s lone defeat came in a Sept. 2019 fourth-round stoppage to Devin Haney in New York City. Nine wins have followed for the Russian contender. The run includes triumphs over former titlists Dejan Zlaticanin, Jorge Linares and Roger Gutierrez.

The fight that put him in IBF title contention, however, was his lone road trip over that stretch. Abdullaev stopped Juan Javier Carrasco in the 12th round of their title eliminator for the No. 2 spot last Oct. 19 in Ciudad Mendoza, Argentina.

Muratalla skyrocketed from budding prospect to rising contender. The Robert Garcia-trained lightweight landed firmly on the contender stage after a May 2023 second-round knockout of former title challenger Jeremia Nakathila in Las Vegas.

Four more wins have followed, including a ten-round decision over former IBF 130-pound titlist Tevin Farmer (33-7-1, 8 KOs) last July 13 also in Vegas. Muratalla defeated Jesus A. Perez via second-round knockout in his most recent bout last Nov. 2 in Verona, New York.

Per an IBF ruling on Jan. 10, Lomachenko must face the winner by no later than Oct. 8. Failure to comply will result in the interim titlist then elevated to full titleholder.