Garcia sees another motive behind that request.
“If Shakur really wants to fight Raymond and he’s holding a title at 140, why? That’s telling you he wants to get Raymond weak,” Garcia said to Fight Hype. “I just told you Raymond told us he didn’t feel as strong. That means he was weak. He wants to take advantage of that.”
Muratalla gave his trainer ammunition for that argument during his August 1 win over Robson Conceição. Garcia said Muratalla struggled during the cut and told his team afterward that his conditioning remained good, but his strength wasn’t there.
The IBF second-day weigh-in created another difficulty by limiting Muratalla to a 10-pound gain. Garcia believes Muratalla belongs at 140 unless a lightweight unification eliminates that restriction.
That gives Shakur two reasons to prefer 135. Beating Muratalla there offers him The Ring lightweight championship while also requiring Muratalla to return to a division his own trainer believes is draining his strength.
Garcia understands why Shakur would want that advantage. He refuses to give it to him.
“He’s a champion, holds a belt at 140, defend your belt,” Garcia said. “Defend it against Raymond.”
Moving the fight to 140 removes the weight issue and gives Shakur a physically stronger version of Muratalla. Garcia believes his fighter has the pressure, body punching, size and strength to make the matchup difficult.
William Zepeda already demonstrated the value of sustained pressure against Shakur. He stayed close, attacked the body and kept throwing rather than allowing Shakur to control the fight entirely at his preferred distance.
Garcia believes Muratalla is bigger and stronger than Zepeda with a better overall skill set.
That comparison has one obvious weakness. Muratalla doesn’t throw punches at anything close to Zepeda’s rate. Zepeda’s relentless output was a major reason he remained competitive against Shakur, and Muratalla would have to find another way to prevent him from settling into a comfortable boxing rhythm.
Still, Muratalla at 140 presents the more revealing fight. At 135, any victory by Shakur would immediately bring questions about how much the weight cut took out of Muratalla.
Garcia wants the fight in November or December. If Shakur lands Devin Haney instead, he understands why the bigger payday takes priority.
Without Haney, Garcia’s challenge is harder to dismiss. Shakur already owns championships at 140. If he wants to prove Muratalla isn’t on his level, he can do it without asking him to fight the scale first.
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