By Mark Eisner: Vasyl Lomachenko fights tonight in an important contest against #8 WBC Jamaine Ortiz in a 12-round bout in lightweight action in the main event on Top Rank Boxing at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card kicks off at 10:00 pm. ET on ESPN+.
Credit: Mikey Williams (Top Rank via Getty Images)
Boxing News 24 will be giving live updates & results of tonight’s action below on the Lomachenko vs. Jamaine card.
Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KOs) sees action for the first time in ten months since his victory over Richard Commey last December. Tonight, he’ll be facing the unbeaten Ortiz (16-0-1, 8 KOs), who is coming off a career-best win over former WBO 130-lb champion Jamel Herring last May.
Lomachenko’s promoter Bob Arum isn’t sure what to expect from him, as he’s been out of the ring for a long spell, defending his country.
“I think we’re going to have an interesting fight. I know him and did some sparring with him. I know what kind of fighter he is, and I can assure you it’s going to be very interesting,” said Vasyl Lomachenko to Abrams Boxing about his fight tonight against Jamaine Ortiz.
Complete card:
Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Jamaine Ortiz
Robeisy Ramirez vs. Matias Romero
Richard Torrez Jr vs. Ahmed Hefny
Duke Ragan vs. Luis Lebron
Nico Ali Walsh vs. Billy Wagner
Troy Isley vs. Quincy LaVallais
Tiger Johnson vs. Esteban Garcia
Abdullah Mason vs. Angel Barrera
Haven Brady Jr vs. Eric Mondragon
“I don’t think it’s going to make a huge difference because the state that you do sparring and the state that you do fighting are two different things,” said Lomachenko when asked if it makes a difference that he’s sparred with Jamaine in the past.
“Yes, most certainly, this is the main goal in professional boxing today,” Lomachenko said when asked if he’d like to fight undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney in his next contest if he beats Ortiz tonight.
“Listen, it would be great to fight with the greatest,” said Lomachenko when asked if he’d like to fight Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, Ryan Garcia, Haney, and Shakur Stevenson. “It would be great to fight them in one tournament.
“A long time ago, I said it would be great to have a tournament and pick up the best in the tournament. But we all understand well that it might not depend on boxers all the time,” said Lomachenko.
