Via Adam Baskin: Vasily Lomachenko will fight this Saturday, October 29, against undefeated lightweight prospect Jamaine Ortiz in the main event on ESPN+ at Madison Square Garden in New York. Event start time is at 5:30 p.m. ET.
If Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KOs) succeeds against 26-year-old Ortiz (16-0-1, 8 KOs), he is likely to challenge undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney next, let’s say he didn’t vacate his belt to move up to 140.
Considering how unenthusiastic Haney was when asked about Lomachenko following his win over George Kambosos Jr on October 16, it probably took a lot of convincing for the Top Rated to convince him. We stay at 135 for one more game.
Former triple world champion Lomachenko last fought in December, defeating former lightweight champion Richard Commey by unanimous decision in the 12th round.
In the feature bronze, Olympic gold medal twice Robeisy Ramirez (10-1, 6 KO) will fight Jose Matias Romero (26-2, 9 KOs) in a 10th round. Romero lost only to Michel Rivera and Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz.
Cuban Ramirez was originally scheduled to face former super bantamweight world champion Jessie Magdaleno, but he pulled out of the fight due to injury.
“Loma should be next and probably will be next. We don’t know how much longer Haney will live,” Andre Ward told Highest rating Boxing. “I think Loma is the right person.”
“Yes, it’s definitely a fight that I’ll entertain,” Devin Haney said when asked by ESPN’s Bernardo Osuna if he sees himself playing Lomachenko next.
“Who is the best prospect in the light division? You couldn’t find a better prospect [Jamaine] Ortiz,” said Lomachenko’s manager, Egis Klimas.
“He is 16-0, undefeated; he’s young, hungry and dangerous. That’s what the Loma team wanted. He likes to take risks; He loves challenges. That’s what makes Loma Loma.”
Lomachenko said: “Now I have a great motivation, even more than before the fight with Teofimo. “I believe that if God gave me this chance one more time, I would take it. Now, I have a chance to become a world champion. The next step is October 29.
“If I win this fight, maybe we can sign Haney. I believe I will win this war.
“Remember where we were a year ago. This fight was supposed to go to Vasyl Lomachenko, and then this fight broke out, and that stopped what was supposed to happen,” said ESPN’s Mark Kriegel.
“Devin Haney has come in [and fought then unified lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr]. I want to see Loma shoot. “
