If Vasiliy Lomachenko Wins Vs. Jamaine Ortiz, He’ll ‘Be Waiting’ For Title Shot

Vasiliy Lomachenko feels no pressure.

That’s what he told FIGHT SPORTS through a translator ahead of Thursday’s final press conference. He added that he can’t wait to get back to doing what he does best.

“I think that I’m past this point where I’m feeling pressure,” Lomachenko said.

“Because I’m quite used to this because this isn’t the first situation that I’m taking on a prospect who has nothing to lose.”

Lomachenko returns for the first time in 10 months. He fought in Madison Square Garden in his last fight against former lightweight champion Richard Commey, who he knocked down and dominated to a 12-round unanimous decision.

Lomachenko was then linked to fight then-unified lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr in Australia in June, but Lomachenko had returned home to Ukraine to assist in the war against Russia.

The Ukrainian boxer, at one point, had the option of returning to the U.S., but ultimately chose to continue defending his country. Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk also returned to Ukraine and enlisted in a territorial defense.

“I just wanted to bring a bit of sports attention to our country. And Saturday, which is Sunday morning in Ukraine, I want the people to change their minds towards good emotions,” Lomachenko said during the final press conference.

If Lomachenko, who has long been on boxing’s pound-for-pound list, is victorious on Saturday, he said he’s chasing four things – Devin Haney’s undisputed title.

“I have a dream to get all four titles,” Lomachenko told FIGHT SPORTS. “… It all depends on what will happen on Saturday of course, but after we finish that fight, I’ll be waiting.”

Lomachenko takes on undefeated Jamaine Ortiz on Saturday in a main event at Madison Square Garden. The undercard will start at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.