Via Craig Page: Vasily Lomachenko will return to action on October 29 to take on undefeated lightweight opponent Jamaine Ortiz in a match that prepares him to challenge 135 lb champion Devin Haney in the first quarter of 2023.
Loma vs Ortiz will live on ESPN+, fans outside the US can watch the full match live on FITETV:
Fighting the undefeated 7th place, 12th WBO Ortiz is a tough balancing act, as he is arguably more talented than anyone Lomachenko has faced recently other than Teofimo Lopez.
The 26-year-old Worcester, Massachusetts-born Ortiz was on an uncomfortable 10-round unanimous decision against former featherweight champion Jamel Herring last May. Ortiz completely outclassed Herring, bringing him into retirement with the win.
Lomachenko has been busy defending his country Ukraine against Russia in response to the recent invasion. Loma joined the territorial defense battalion and was busy until deciding to return to the ring to prepare to fight against Haney.
A six-year professional Ortiz should be an excellent opponent for Lomachenko to be ready for a championship shot next year against undefeated Haney (28-0, 15 KOs).
Ortiz has the same polished boxing skills as Haney possesses, but has more power and is willing to mix it up inside.
At 5’8″, Ortiz will have a height advantage over Lomachenko 5’7″, but it’s not a huge size difference like when Loma vs Masayoshi Nakatani 5’11” in June last year.
This will be Lomachenko’s first match of 2022 since beating Richard Commey by 12 innings last December.
Lomachenko looked brilliant as he won his second match in a row since losing the title to Teofimo Lopez by a nasty 12th-half decision in October 2020. Loma fought Teofimo with a one-shot. The right rotator cuff was torn which he had to undergo surgery to repair.
All attempts by Lomachenko to get a rematch with Teofimo since then have failed, as the New Yorker is not interested.
