Lomachenko wins thriller against Ortiz, targets Haney next

Vasiliy Lomachenko took a unanimous decision win over Jamaine Ortiz at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York.

The world former champion from Ukraine won by scorecards of 115-113, 116-112 and 117-111 for the three judges. But those tallies didn’t tell the story of what was a close, thrilling fight.

Lomachenko was coming back to the sport after walking away from a major title unification earlier this year when he returned to his homeland once Russia invaded Ukraine to enlist in the Territorial Defence force.

Ortiz was his first fight back after coming out of Ukraine and returning to training. The American, the younger man by eight years, was taller with an advantage in reach. He put those dimensions to use with dynamic energy in the first round.

Ortiz threw hard shots from long range and stayed busy enough to keep the Ukrainian southpaw at bay. As early as the first round dark bruising became apparent under Lomachenko’s right eye.