Jamaine Ortiz (17-2-1, 8 KOs) had his big test last Thursday night. In his first world title fight against WBO junior welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez (20-1, 13 KOs), the Technician executed his fight plan by darting in and out, and using movement and speed to frustrate Lopez.
The only thing Ortiz didn’t do was win a decision in the eyes of the judges. Lopez came away with a twelve round unanimous decision, with tallies of 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113.
“It was a masterful performance,” said CES Boxing founder Jimmy Burchfield, Sr. “He outboxed Lopez from the beginning. Jamaine outshined the showman in his hometown and then he was robbed of the decision. It’s shame when a fighter loses a decision like that after putting on such a boxing clinic. As far as I’m concerned, we beat Teofimo Lopez and we’re ready to challenge the other champions in the division.”
Ortiz came out as a southpaw from the opening bell and never switched to orthodox. Lopez was ineffective at cutting off the ring to catch up to Ortiz, who never stopped moving all fight.
“I stuck to the gameplan,” said a dejected Ortiz moments after the decision. “He couldn’t hit me. I was making him miss all night. I was keeping him at bay with the jab, I was countering with the check hook. He wasn’t landing any shots on me.”
“Like I said the whole week, he gets frustrated,” said Ortiz of his opponent’s temperament. “He can’t control himself. I know how to control myself and I knew he couldn’t. That was the game plan: get him frustrated and make him lose control. He was throwing wild, I was making him miss, it was part of the game plan and it worked.”