Former pound-for-pound king Lomachenko set for ring return vs. Ortiz on Oct. 29
Card also includes Olympians Torrez, Johnson, Ragan, Isley
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Three-division world champion and former pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko’s ring return was made official on Monday.
Lomachenko will face unbeaten Jamaine Ortiz in the 12-round lightweight main event of a Top Rank Boxing on ESPN+ card on Oct. 29 at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, Top Rank announced.
Top Rank also announced the expected co-feature, a 10-round featherweight bout between two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez and former junior featherweight world titlist Jessie Magdaleno.
Lomachenko, who last fought on Dec. 11 in a one-sided decision over former lightweight titlist Richard Commey in the Madison Square Garden main arena, passed up a shot to fight George Kambosos Jr. for the unified lightweight title in June. Lomachenko instead put his career on hold to remain in his home country of Ukraine, where he joined a territorial defense battalion to help his country defend itself in the war with invading Russia.
“Vasiliy Lomachenko is a credit to his country and the sport of boxing,” Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said. “When his country needed him, Vasiliy did not hesitate. We are thrilled that he is safe and fighting once again at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, his home away from home. Jamaine Ortiz is a young, hungry, undefeated fighter who understands that a victory over a living legend like Loma would be life changing.”
Lomachenko arrived with his family to train in Southern California last month and Top Rank finalized the fight with Ortiz, the expected opponent.
“I love my sport, and I am so glad to be back,” Lomachenko said. “My goal is to win the undisputed lightweight title, but I will not take Jamaine Ortiz lightly.”
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KOs), a 34-year-old southpaw, has won world titles at featherweight, junior lightweight and unified three titles at lightweight before losing a decision in a unification fight with Teofimo Lopez in October 2020. After the fight, Lomachenko had surgery on the shoulder that was injured coming into the bout.
Lomachenko has won two lopsided fights in a row since losing to Lopez, a ninth-round knockout of Masayoshi Nakatani in June 2021 and the victory over Commey.
Lomachenko is 5-0 at Madison Square Garden counting fights in the main arena and Hulu Theater.
“Madison Square Garden and Hulu Theater at MSG have been special places in my career, and I look forward to making more great memories on Oct. 29,” Lomachenko said. “I want to dedicate this fight to all my Ukrainian people. I wear the flag proudly every time I step in the ring.”
A win over Ortiz would likely set up Lomachenko for a shot at the undisputed 135-pound crown next against the winner of the rematch between Devin Haney and Kambosos, who meet again on Oct. 15 in Melbourne, Australia, Kambosos’ home country. After Lomachenko withdrew from the fight with Kambosos, WBC titlist Haney accepted the fight and outpointed Kambosos to fully unify the division.
Ortiz (16-0-1, 8 KOs), 26, of Worcester, Massachusetts, is coming off the biggest win of his career, a 10-round unanimous decision over former junior lightweight titlist Jamel Herring on May 21 that sent Herring into retirement.
“I’m excited about this fight. Vasiliy Lomachenko is a great fighter, but I'm here to win,” Ortiz said. “Once I win this fight, I’m targeting a world title opportunity. This is a dream come true.”
In the co-feature, Ramirez (10-1, 6 KOs), 28, who fights out of Gulfport, Florida, will be taking on his most notable opponent as a pro in fellow southpaw Magdaleno (29-1, 18 KOs), 30, of Las Vegas. Ramirez is coming off an impressive fifth-round knockout of Abraham Nova on June 18 at the Hulu Theater.
“It is great to be back at the iconic Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. I am particularly excited to do so as co-main event of the evening that marks the return of the great Vasiliy Lomachenko, whom I admire and consider one of the greatest talents of all time,” Ramirez said. “It’s rare to have two two-time Olympic gold medalists on the same card, and it is an honor for me. As far as Magdaleno is concerned, he represents an important challenge as he is an excellent boxer, a southpaw, and a former world champion.”
Magdaleno ended a two-year layoff on May 21 with an eight-round decision win against Edy Valencia.
“I am coming to shock the boxing world,” Magdaleno said. “I know what a victory would mean for my career. My goal is to become a two-time world champion, and Robeisy Ramirez is in my way. Just know that I am ready.”
The card will also include four 2020 U.S. Olympians in action against opponents to be determined:
Heavyweight Richard Torrez Jr. (3-0, 3 KOs), who claimed the super heavyweight silver medal in Tokyo, will box in a six-rounder.
Junior welterweight Tiger Johnson (5-0, 4 KOs) will appear in a six-rounder.
Featherweight silver medalist Duke Ragan (7-0, 1 KO) will compete in his first scheduled eight-rounder.
Troy Isley (7-0, 4 KOs), who has been campaigning as a middleweight, plans to go down to junior middleweight for an eight-rounder.
Two other prospects will also be on the card: Cleveland lightweight Abdullah Mason (4-0, 3 KOs) in his first six-rounder and junior lightweight Haven Brady Jr. (7-0, 4 KOs) in an eight-rounder.
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Looks like a really good card.