By Craig Page: Vasily Lomachenko will be back in action on October 29th for a fight against unbeaten lightweight contender Jamaine Ortiz in a tune-up to prepare him to challenge undisputed 135-lb champion Devin Haney in the first quarter of 2023.
Loma vs Ortiz will be live on ESPN+, fight fans outside the US can watch the entire fight card live on FITETV:
Fighting the unbeaten #7 WBC, #12 WBO Ortiz is a tough tune-up fight, as he’s arguably more talented than anyone Lomachenko has faced recently aside from Teofimo Lopez.
The 26-year-old Worcester, Massachusetts native Ortiz is coming off an upset 10-round unanimous decision win over former super featherweight champion Jamel Herring last May. Ortiz totally outclassed Herring, sending him into retirement with the victory.
Lomachenko has been busy defending his country Ukraine against Russia in response to the recent invasion. Loma joined up with the territorial defense battalion and has been busy until deciding to return to the ring to prepare for a fight against Haney.
The six-year professional Ortiz should be an excellent opponent for Lomachenko to get ready for a title shot next year against unbeaten Haney (28-0, 15 KOs).
Ortiz has the slick boxing skills that Haney possesses, but with more power and a willingness to mix it up on the inside.
At 5’8″, Ortiz will have the height advantage against the 5’7″ Lomachenko, but it’s not a huge size difference like when Loma fought the 5’11” Masayoshi Nakatani last year in June.
This will be Lomachenko’s first fight in 2022 since defeating Richard Commey by a 12-round decision last December.
Lomachenko looked excellent in winning his second consecutive fight since losing his titles to Teofimo Lopez by an upset 12 round decision in October 2020. Loma took the fight with Teofimo with a torn right rotator cuff, which he’s since had surgery to repair.
All efforts by Lomachenko to get a rematch with Teofimo have since failed, as the New Yorker isn’t interested.