Things could change but for the moment, reports seem to lean away from a Tank Davis-Ryan Garcia pay-per-view showdown making up for other recent disappointments.
If that is the case, another year will pass by without the explosion so many saw possible at lightweight remaining off in the distance…and maybe at another weight class. What might occur at lightweight proper could come into focus after Saturday’s main event on ESPN+ (6:15 PM EST).
Former three-division titlist Vasyl Lomachenko makes his first start of the year with an obvious eye on 2023. Barring a move to Jr. welterweight for undisputed champion Devin Haney, signs point Lomachenko challenging for the crown next year.
It’s ironic to see the pendulum swing. The whole WBC “franchise” silliness at lightweight started with Lomachenko and Haney. The simple answer would have been for Lomachenko to fight his mandatory. Plans were already obvious to get to Lomachenko-Teofimo Lopez and haney was left to wait. Now it’s Haney who can decide just how much Lomachenko might be fighting for.
Jamaine Ortiz has the chance of a lifetime to take the choice away altogether.
Let’s get into it.
Stats and Stakes
Vasyl Lomachenko
Age: 34
Title: None
Previous Titles: WBO featherweight (2014-16, 3 Defenses); WBO super featherweight (2016-18, 4 Defenses); WBC lightweight (2019); WBA/Ring lightweight (2018-Present, 3 Defenses); WBO lightweight (2018-Present, 2 Defenses)
Height: 5’7
Weight: 134 ½ lbs.
Stance: Southpaw
Hails from: Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, Ukraine
Record: 16-2, 11 KO (22-2, 11 KO including World Series of Boxing Contests)
Press Rankings: #1 (TBRB, Ring) #2 (ESPN) #4 (BoxRec)
Record in Major Title Fights: 13-2, 9 KO
Last Five Opponents: 118-12-3 (.898)
Notable Outcomes, TBRB and/or Ring Rated Foes: Orlando Salido L12; Roman Martinez KO5; Jason Sosa RTD9; Guillermo Rigondeaux RTD6; Jorge Linares TKO10; Jose Pedraza UD12; Anthony Crolla KO4; Luke Campbell UD12; Teofimo Lopez L12; Masayoshi Nakatani TKO9; Richard Commey UD12
Additional Current/Former Titlists Faced: Gary Russell Jr MD12; Nicholas Walters RTD7
Vs.
Jamaine Ortiz
Age: 26
Title/Previous Titles: None
Height: 5’8
Weight: 134 lbs.
Stance: Orthodox
Hails from: Worcester, Massachusetts
Record: 16-0-1, 8 KO
Press Rankings: #9 (TBRB)
Record in Major Title Fights: N/A
Last Five Opponents: 86-11-2 (.879)
Notable Outcomes, Ring Rated Foes: Jamel Herring UD10
Additional Current/Former Titlists Faced: None
The Pick: Lomachenko’s activity has been interrupted this year in part because of the conflict in his native Ukraine but he’s back to business here. Ortiz comes in off his best win to date, a lopsided decision over recent former Jr. lightweight titlist Jamel Herring, and has some attributes on his side. Ortiz is taller, longer, and younger than Lomachenko and has all the reason in the world to be motivated. What Lomachenko has is a more developed skill set and deeper experience as a professional and amateur. The footwork of Lomachenko is going to give Ortiz problems as the fight goes on and Ortiz may find it difficult to build a consistent offensive approach. Lomachenko’s combinations will do enough to dazzle the younger man and win the decision.
Additional Weekend Picks
William Zepeda Dec. Joseph Diaz
Rold Picks 2022: 48-10
Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com