Top Rank Makes Lomachenko October Return Official

Former unified lightweight champ Vasiliy Lomachenko will officially return to the ring in October against an up and coming, unbeaten lightweight contender.

Top Rank Boxing made the announcement official mid-day Monday that one of the best pound for pound fighters of the last ten years will battle Jamaine Ortiz October 29th at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater,

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗫 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗦 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗛𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗔𝗡

🇺🇦 @VasylLomachenko will return in a 12-round main event against undefeated contender @TechnicianOrtiz Saturday, October 29. pic.twitter.com/QKp0JGtrGS

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) September 12, 2022

From the Top Rank release,

“Lomachenko was set to fight then-unified lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. earlier this year, but when Russia invaded Ukraine, he put his boxing career on hold to join a territorial defense battalion in his homeland.

“Vasiliy Lomachenko is a credit to his country and the sport of boxing,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “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 (16-2, 11 KOs) has a résumé that is unmatched in modern boxing. A two-time Olympic gold medalist for Ukraine, he had a 396-1 amateur record, won a world title in his third pro fight, and became a three-weight world champion in his 12th bout. Lomachenko unified three of the four lightweight titles before a loss to Teofimo Lopez in October 2020 derailed his quest for undisputed supremacy. Last year, he came back with one-sided victories over Masayoshi Nakatani and Richard Commey.

Lomachenko is 5-0 at Madison Square Garden Entertainment’s venues, including the win over Commey and his one-sided drubbing over fellow two-time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux. He arrived in Southern California last month to resume his career and work towards his goal of capturing the undisputed lightweight title, which is currently held by Devin “The Dream” Haney.

Lomachenko said, “I love my sport, and I am so glad to be back. My goal is to win the undisputed lightweight title, but I will not take Jamaine Ortiz lightly. 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 October 29. I want to dedicate this fight to all my Ukrainian people. I wear the flag proudly every time I step in the ring.”

Ortiz (16-0-1, 8 KOs), from Worcester, Massachusetts, enters this bout hoping to stun another former world champion on the comeback trail. He last fought May 21 in Las Vegas, wearing down Jamel “Semper Fi” Herring down the stretch to earn a 10-round unanimous decision. Ortiz is a six-year pro who plied his trade on the New England club scene.

Three months before the Herring triumph, Ortiz won the NABF lightweight strap with a clear decision win over Nahir Albright. Ortiz made his Top Rank on ESPN debut in April 2021 with an eight-draw against Joseph Adorno, surviving a pair of knockdowns in one of the year’s best action battles.

Ortiz said, “I’m excited about this fight. Vasiliy Lomachenko is a great fighter, but I’m here to win. Once I win this fight, I’m targeting a world title opportunity. This is a dream come true.” 

Cuban rising star and former two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Robeisy Ramirez will headline the co-feature fight on October 29th and young American heavweight Richard Torrez, who won Sivler at the Tokyo Olympics in August of last year, is back on the undercard, as well.

Top Rank announced that ESPN+ will stream the bouts Saturday night from New York.