This wasn’t exactly the way Raymond Muratalla envisioned becoming a world champion, but it’ll suffice for now.

The more complete Muratalla’s hand speed, power and athleticism helped him fend off determined Russian contender Zaur Abdullaev in their fight for the IBF interim lightweight title Saturday night at Pechanga Arena in San Diego. Judges Dennis O’Connell (119-109), David Sutherland (119-109) and Steve Weisfeld (118-110) scored their 12-round, 135-pound title fight for Muratalla, who won a unanimous decision in the co-feature of ESPN’s doubleheader.

The output of Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs) decreased during the second half of their championship bout, as he went 12 rounds for the first time in his career. The Fontana, California, resident still easily ended Abdullaev’s nine-fight winning streak and joined former undisputed lightweight champ Devin Haney (32-0, 15 KOs, 1 NC) as the only opponents who have beaten Abdullaev (20-2, 12 KOs).

“It feels great,” Muratalla told ESPN’s Mark Kriegel in the ring. “All this hard work I’ve been putting in, all these fights, it feels great to finally have this [IBF belt] around my waist. … He was a tough fighter. He came to fight. We knew that. I was just using my skills and picked him apart and beat him every round.”

Muratalla, 27, moved into position to possibly box Vasiliy Lomachenko if the three-division champion comes back to fight. The IBF has given Ukraine’s Lomachenko, 37, until Oct. 8 to defend its lightweight title against Muratalla, or he would be elevated from interim to full champion.

It is unknown if Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) would even consider the high-risk, low-reward proposition of facing Muratalla. Lomachenko, who stopped George Kambosos in the 11th round of his most recent action almost a year ago, might seek a bigger payday against a higher-profile opponent if the two-time Olympic gold medalist boxes again.

Muratalla seemed certain he was ahead entering the 12th round. He approached the final three minutes accordingly, by out-maneuvering Abdullaev from the outside until the final bell rang.

After not landing many power punches in the ninth and 10th rounds, Muratalla blasted Abdullaev with a right uppercut and later a straight right in the opening minute of the 11th. Muratalla also snapped back Abdullaev’s head with a jab that landed with just more than 20 seconds remaining in the 11th.

Muratalla slipped many of Abdullaev’s punches during the ninth. He didn’t connect with many of his shots in that round, either.

Abdullaev and Muratalla worked off their jabs for much of the eighth round. Toward the end, though, Muratalla landed a left uppercut that looked like the cleanest punch of that three-minute stretch.

Muratalla’s right connected to the center of Abdullaev’s face as he came forward with under 15 seconds remaining in the seventh round. Abdullaev kept coming after that shot landed as the competitive round came to a close.

A left-right combination by Muratalla landed with just under 10 seconds to go in the sixth.

Abdullaev finally hit Muratalla with a right hand that got his attention a little less than a minute into the fifth. Muratalla reset his feet and regained his composure soon thereafter.

A right by Muratalla landed from long range with approximately 1:40 to go in the fourth round. He also landed a hard left hook to Abdullaev’s body. With just more than 10 seconds remaining, he backed up Abdullaev with a right hand.

Abdullaev and Muratalla landed right hands in a fierce exchange with about 30 seconds left in the third.

Muratalla’s hand speed and power were factors throughout a dominant second round as his left hook got Abdullaev’s attention with just under a minute remaining.

Abdullaev and Muratalla mostly felt each other out during a first round during which there weren’t many punches landed.