Trent Reinsmith
- What: Vasiliy Lomachenko vs Jamaine Ortiz
- Date: Saturday, October 29, 2022
- Location: Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
- Time: 10 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: ESPN+
Vasiliy Lomachenko‘s reign as the top fighter in the lightweight division ended in October 2020 when he dropped a unanimous decision to Teofimo Lopez. With the loss, Lomachenko’s WBA, WBO and The Ring titles were handed over to Lopez. Lopez’s reign ended in his next bout when George Kambosos Jr. defeated him via split decision.
Lomachenko looked like he was going to face Kambosos after the ex-champ scored a unanimous decision over Richard Commey in December. Instead, Lomachenko, a native of Ukraine, took up arms in that country’s war with Russia. Kambosos instead faced Devin Haney in June. He lost that bout by decision. Haney and Kambosos face each other in a rematch on October 16. Two weeks after that fight, Lomachenko meets Jamaine Ortiz in a bout that could decide the opponent of the Haney vs. Kambosos 2 matchup.
Lomachenko (16-2 with 11 knockouts) is the No. 2 rated lightweight fighter according to The Ring ratings. He trails Haney and Kambosos. Ortiz has a record of 16-0-1 with eight knockouts. He is unrated by “The Bible of Boxing,” but a win over Lomachenko, who is the No. 6 rated fighter in The Ring’s pound-for-pound list.
Before we look at the matchup between Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Jamaine Ortiz, check out the best boxing betting sites, and if you are interested in other combat sports, where you can find the best boxing picks.
| Fighters |  |  |  |
| Vasyl Lomachenko | -1500 | -1600 | -2000 |
| Jamaine Ortiz | +800 | +750 | +622 |
Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Jamaine Ortiz prediction and pick
Vasiliy Lomachenko is closing in on a year since his last fight. The last time he took an extended break was when he went 14 months between defeating Luke Campbell and losing to Teofimo Lopez. Lomachenko is also 34 years old. With those two factors, there is some concern that time off and age will conspire against the former pound-for-pound king on October 29. I think that’s one of the reasons he’s been booked against a fighter like Ortiz; a young and talented boxer coming off a big win, but a competitor who has not yet reached his full potential. The 26-year-old Ortiz last fought in May. In that matchup, he defeated former WBO super featherweight champion Jamel Herring.
In addition to time off and age, Lomachenko has the pressure of a promised fight against the winner of the Haney vs. Kambosos rematch hanging over his head.
Lomachenko’s experience, ability and skills all make him the overwhelming favorite in this matchup. I won’t say this is a tune-up fight for the former champ, but it is a booking that will allow everyone to assess where he stands at this point in his career and if he has what it takes to get back to the top of the lightweight division.
Pick: Vasiliy Lomachenko to defeat Jamaine Ortiz
Who has the edge
Vasiliy Lomachenko has the edge in every respect other than age in this matchup.
Look for Lomachenko to start slow against Jamaine Ortiz and use the early rounds to gather information as well as shake off any rust he has accumulated during his time away from the ring. The early stages of the fight will be Ortiz’s best chance to steal some rounds against Lomachenko. If Ortiz can stay busy and land jabs while his opponent is gathering data, he has an opportunity to keep things interesting. Ortiz cannot allow himself to be dazzled by the name or accomplishments of his foe.
Lopez set the blueprint on how to beat Lomachenko, denying his angles and staying away from his power. Commey followed this blueprint early, but Lomachenko adjusted and when he did that, he took over the fight and went on to get the win. If Ortiz’s team has a second game plan to move to when Lomachenko has figured things out, this could be an interesting fight. With that being said, Lomachenko learned a big lesson in the Lopez loss and he’ll be ready for any changes and he will be able to adjust accordingly.
Prediction: Vasiliy Lomachenko to defeat Jamaine Ortiz via decision.
Best Bets for Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Jamaine Ortiz
The easy bet for the Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Jamaine Ortiz fight is for Lomachenko to win. The best bets for the matchup are going to be on the length and outcome of the fight. I will not be surprised if Lomachenko scores a knockout, so there might be some value in that bet, but I think the best bet for Lomachenko vs. Ortiz is a decision win for Lomachenko and the fight going the distance. If you do favor a stoppage, I would bet on that taking place in the second half of the fight, as most of Lomachenko’s stoppages have come in the sixth round or later.
Pick: Vasiliy Lomachenko to defeat Jamaine Ortiz via decision.
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