By Dan Ambrose: Light welterweight contender Josesito Lopez (30-4, 18 KO’s) will be waiting an awful long time for Victor Ortiz’s broken jaw to heal up so that the two of them can face each other again. Showtime wants to televise the rematch, but it’s not going to happen for at least six months and likely longer than that due to the severity of Ortiz’s jaw injury.

Ortiz suffered two fractures of his jaw and not just one like normal fighters. That’s a significant injury, and with that kind of jaw injury, Ortiz is going to need a considerable amount of time before he’ll be allowed back in the ring.

Lopez no doubt wants to take advantage of his big win and get the rematch as soon as he can. Lopez is a decent fighter, but he doesn’t match up against the top light welterweights nor the top welterweights. Lopez had it perfect against Ortiz, because he’s easy to hit and only fights in spurts. Things won’t go so well for Lopez if he faces the likes of Lucas Matthysse, Tim Bradley, Marcos Maidana, and Mike Alvarado. Those guys would do a number on him and ruin all the good that came out of Lopez’s win over Ortiz. Those guys won’t quit if they get injured, and it would be a long night for Lopez.

Since Lopez isn’t going to get a rematch against Ortiz any time soon, he’s going to have to stay busy by facing someone else. My suggestion would be for Lopez to go soft and face one or two 3rd tier opponents while he waits for Ortiz to heal up. Unless Lopez is offered a big money fight against one of the champions, which I highly doubt, he should take a couple weak opponents in stay busy fights while Ortiz heals.

Once Ortiz is all healed up, Lopez can face him in a rematch next year, and likely get beaten. Lopez was well on his way to losing the fight against Ortiz before being saved by Ortiz’s injury. I don’t see that happening a second time.