By Chris Williams
September 12, 2022
Source: Boxing News 24
Photo Source: Getty Images
Vasyl Lomachenko will return to the ring on October 29th to remove the last hurdle in the former of Jamaine ‘The Technition’ Ortiz before he challenges undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney for his four straps. Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has already confirmed that Haney is next for Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KOs) as long as he wins his fight against the unbeaten Ortiz (16-0-1, 8 KOs).
Lomachenko vs. Ortiz will be headlining in a 12-round fight on ESPN+ at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. The former three-division world champion Lomachenko will fight for the first time since returning from the war in his home country of Ukraine.
For Lomachenko’s first fight back, he’s facing the highly skilled 26-year-old Ortiz, who is coming off a 10 round unanimous decision win over Jamel Herring on May 21st. Ortiz sent the former WBO super featherweight champion Herring into retirement with that victory. Ortiz will obviously find it much more difficult to find the same kind of success against Lomachenko than he did Herring, as he’s a far different type of fighter.
Of course, there’s no way of knowing how Lomachenko will look, given all the time he spent outside of the ring in Ukraine. With that said, if this is the same Lomachenko that we saw in his last fight against Richard Commey last December, Ortiz is going to be in big trouble.
In the chief support bout, featherweight contender Robeisy Ramirez will face former super bantamweight champion Jessie Magdaleno in a 10 round bout.
“When his country needed him, Vasiliy did not hesitate,” said Top Rank promoter Bob Arum about Lomachenko. “We are thrilled that he is safe and fighting once again at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, his home away from home. Jamaine Ortiz is a young, hungry, undefeated fighter who understands that a victory over a living legend like Loma would be life-changing.”
Ortiz is a good fighter, but he’s biting off more than he can chew against Lomachenko. “I love my sport, and I am so glad to be back,” said Lomachenko. “My goal is to win the undisputed lightweight title, but I will not take Jamaine Ortiz lightly. I want to dedicate this fight to all my Ukrainian people.”
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