Saturday’s light-weight combat between Vasyl Lomachenko and Jamaine Ortiz needs to be one for the boxing purists, writes Elliot Worsell
GIVEN his undoubted expertise, Vasyl Lomachenko ought to, in 2022, in all probability be headlining Madison Square Garden in opposition to a fellow pound-for-pound famous person for the appropriate to say dominance in the newest of the quite a few weight lessons in which he has dipped his toes.
Instead, although, he fights this Saturday (October 29) on the Madison Square Garden Theatre in opposition to Jamaine Ortiz, an unbeaten however principally untested prospect from Worcester, Massachusetts. This, Lomachenko’s nineteenth as a professional, just isn’t a foul combat essentially, nor one with out intrigue, but it’s nonetheless truthful to say Lomachenko deserves and maybe wants higher at this level, particularly given his age (34).
Never a massively marketable attraction even at the most effective of instances, the wheels of the Lomachenko bus began to sluggish in 2020, shortly after Teofimo Lopez outhustled him to take his world light-weight title. That was thought of a captivating combat going in, however most believed Lomachenko’s larger expertise and all-round skillset can be sufficient to show to Lopez the chance had come a bit quickly for him. That this didn’t occur was not solely a shock to most, nevertheless it additionally derailed Lomachenko considerably, at the least in phrases of him being a pound-for-pound star. Since then, he has fought a few instances, stopping Masayoshi Nakatani in 9 rounds and outpointing Richard Commey over 12, but when ever there was a fighter in want of a revamp subsequent yr it’s the southpaw from Ukraine.
Indeed, this upcoming combat with Ortiz might be Lomachenko’s first of 2022, arriving virtually an entire yr after his win in opposition to Commey. That’s not ideally suited for any boxer, not to mention a light-weight of 34, and, furthermore, it’s a disgrace extra isn’t being manufactured from a top quality operator who’s undoubtedly probably the most aesthetically pleasing now we have in the game in the present day. We could solely come to understand this – Lomachenko’s brilliance – as soon as his profession is over, sadly.
Still, for now he embarks on one other title run, which might solely be a very good factor, and his subsequent opponent, Ortiz, ought to convey out the most effective in him, too. Known as “The Technician”, a nickname virtually blasphemous when used in the corporate of Lomachenko, Ortiz is a promising, well-schooled light-weight who can function as both an orthodox boxer or southpaw. He used each these stances to good impact in opposition to Jamel Herring, a former WBO belt-holder at super-featherweight, in May, a 10-rounder Ortiz received by way of determination. That outcome alerted others to his potential and was additionally his second win of this yr, following scorching on the heels of one other determination, this time in opposition to Nahir Albright, in February.
As nicely as extra lively than Lomachenko, Ortiz is eight years his junior at 26 and may be very a lot having fun with the fruits of momentum proper now, with the one blip on his 17-fight professional file a majority draw he recorded in opposition to Joseph Adorno in April 2021. Ortiz was dropped twice that evening, as soon as in the second spherical and once more in the seventh, however battled again nicely to make sure he remained undefeated.
Clearly, nevertheless, regardless of Ortiz’s potential and his latest type, there’s a gulf in class and expertise between him and Lomachenko, 16-2 (11), one thing most will count on to see demonstrated on Saturday evening. In reality, one might even go as far as to argue that Ortiz, whereas nonetheless unproven, ranks pretty low down on the listing of opponents Lomachenko has up to now confronted and overcome in his profession. That possible says extra about Lomachenko’s stage than it does Ortiz’s, however, both manner, it’s onerous to see something apart from a large Lomachenko victory, in all probability on the playing cards, when the 2 examine their respective methods this weekend.
Supporting Lomachenko and Ortiz on the MSG Theatre is a featherweight combat between gifted Cuban Robeisy Ramírez and Argentina’s Jose Matias Romero,who changed Jessie Magdaleno, Ramírez’s unique opponent, when Magdaleno withdrew because of a hand damage.
This needs to be a simple sufficient project for Ramírez, 10-1 (6), who, like Lomachenko, is without doubt one of the most expert boxers on the planet, with little on Romero’s file suggesting he’ll supply a lot in the way in which of upset potential. At 26-2 (9), he’s each skilled and sturdy – by no means stopped – however clearly lacks the punch energy to threaten most opponents, particularly these of a good grade, and has additionally come up quick in two earlier journeys to the US. The first man to beat Romero was Isaac Cruz, who outpointed him over 12 in March 2021, then seven months after that Michel Rivera did the identical, this time over 10 rounds.
Those journeys to America served to focus on Romero’s limitations and, with this in thoughts, it’s powerful to see how Ramírez, a fighter superior to each Cruz and Rivera, struggles to do one thing comparable, if not higher, this weekend. He is on a roll proper now, too, Ramírez, with eye-catching stoppages of Eric Donovan and Abraham Nova already scored this yr, and one would again him to turn into the primary man to cease Romero ought to he discover himself impressed to proceed this run of knockouts in New York.
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