Vasiliy Lomachenko Hustles For Unanimous Decision Win Vs. Jamaine Ortiz
It was tactical.
Vasiliy Lomachenko made a late comeback against Jamaine Ortiz in their main event at the Hulu Theater in Madison Square Garden. After being outworked by Ortiz, who was a major underdog, Lomachenko managed to close the fight with a unanimous decision win with scorecards of 115-113, 116-112 and 117-111.
“Jamaine Ortiz is a tough fighter, a good fighter,” Lomachenko – who handed back Ortiz’s NABF lightweight title to him — reiterated to ESPN after the win.
Undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney then appeared inside the ring and said he wasn’t impressed with Lomachenko.
“I think it wasn’t the best performance, but I know if me and Loma were to fight, we’d see a better version on the night. Congratulations, and hopefully we can get it on,” he said, standing just less than an arm’s length away from Lomachenko.
“I’m ready for any option,” Lomachenko added.
“… He’s a tough fighter that’s why he’s an undisputed champion.”
Devin Haney and Vasyl Lomachenko in the ring together after Loma's win tonight… pic.twitter.com/0ie0ve8R18
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 30, 2022
Chants of “Loma” broke out early in the first round. The cheering was background noise to Lomachenko and Ortiz trading shots with one another. The energy in the ring was high. Ortiz put his hand speed on display, but Lomachenko continued to press with his jab and a counter.
Cheers of “Loma” returned after Lomachenko briefly sent Ortiz to the ropes. Ortiz landed a couple of hits that made the rest of the crowd cheer.
After the first round, there was a contusion visible under Lomachenko’s right eye.
In the second round, Ortiz didn’t seem to show fear as he continued to land shots, forcing Lomachenko to clinch. The crowd got loud when Ortiz caught his opponent with a number of combinations. But Lomachenko got brief revenge with a hard right hand.
Lomachenko went more on the defensive side to avoid the abrasion from growing any bigger.
Ortiz continued to set the tone for the third round. “Loma” and “Ortiz” chants began to mix. Ortiz caught Lomachenko with a combination that forced him to take a few steps back.
But Lomachenko landed a straight left then hard right that made Ortiz stumble backwards.
In the fourth round, Lomachenko tried to clinch, but Ortiz used it to his advantage to get a few inside hits. Ortiz found his strategy by keeping Lomachenko busy with his barrage of punches – while not all of them landed.
Ortiz continued to keep Lomachenko on his toes by continuing to press and be aggressive in the fifth round. The two danced around the ring and continuously traded punches that kept the crowd talking. A cut had opened on Ortiz’s face.
In the sixth round, Lomachenko began to get the better of Ortiz as he landed precise body shots.
In the seventh round, Ortiz continued to sneak in his uppercuts.
Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and friend of Lomachenko was also ringside.
Vasyl Lomachenko and his team arriving in Ukrainian military style fight kit for his bout vs Jamaine Ortiz tonight after Loma served in the territorial defense earlier this year during the war with Russia…
[🎥 LomUs Official] pic.twitter.com/N1yt0al0ru
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 30, 2022
Lomachenko pounded Ortiz that made him take a step back in the ninth round. Ortiz subtly teased his opponent by imitating his footwork. “Loma” chants returned, but Ortiz didn’t let those fans off easily.
In the 10th round, Lomachenko followed Ortiz who rode along the ropes and planted a left uppercut. Despite a defining performance from Ortiz so far, Lomachenko continued to look for a way to come back.
The fight went into the 11th round, which was Ortiz’s first time in his career. “Loma” and “Ortiz” chants began to mix again. Lomachenko capitalized on a brief lull that stunned Ortiz and seemed to have taken charge in the round.
In the 12th and final round, Lomachenko pressed forward in urgency, out-throwing Ortiz in the last two rounds. Both fighters didn’t seem like they lost any stamina – even to the final bell.
Entering the 12th and FINAL round.@ESPNPlus x #LomaOrtiz pic.twitter.com/nUr60GIc6l
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) October 30, 2022
Lomachenko outthrew and outlanded Ortiz in the last three rounds in front of the 4,586 crowd.