NEW YORK — Former IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla officially vacated his title over the weekend ahead of a planned move to 140 pounds, prompting the sanctioning body to order a vacant title fight between its top two contenders, Andy Cruz and Artur Subkhankulov.
Per Cesar Seda, the IBF has given Subkhankulov and Cruz 30 days to hash out an agreement for the vacant championship and avoid a purse bid. Cruz (7-1) enters as the IBF's top-ranked contender, with Subkhankulov ranked No. 2 in line for the vacant belt at lightweight.
The order sets a direct path to a world title at 135 pounds without an eliminator, pairing the two highest-rated available contenders for the vacant championship. Muratalla's move to junior welterweight clears the IBF lightweight title and forces the division to crown a new champion through negotiations or the purse bid process.
If Cruz and Subkhankulov do not reach a deal within the 30-day window, the IBF will send the fight to purse bids under its championship rules. The winner will claim the vacant lightweight title and move into the broader unification mix, while Muratalla begins his campaign in the 140-pound division.