Three-weight world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko will return to action in New York City on Saturday, October 29 against undefeated contender Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.
The 10-round featherweight co-feature will have two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez looking for a possible career-best win against former world champion Jessie Magdaleno.
American Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (3-0, 3 KOs), coming off a 44-second knockout of Marco Antonio Canedo in August, looks to go 4-0 in a six-round heavyweight special feature .
Lomachenko-Ortiz, Ramirez-Magdaleno and Torrez Jr. headline a card that will air live and exclusively on ESPN+. In a Top Rank promotion, tickets starting at $56 go on sale Thursday, September 15 at 12 pm ET.
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,” Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum said. “When his country needed him, Vasiliy did not hesitate. We are thrilled that he is safe and fighting once again at the 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 change her life.”
Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KOs) has a resume unmatched in modern boxing. A two-time Olympic gold medalist for Ukraine, he had an amateur record of 396-1, won a world title in his third pro fight and became a three-weight world champion in his twelfth fight. Lomachenko unified three of 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 wins over Masayoshi Nakatani and Richard Commey. Lomachenko is 5-0 at the Madison Square Garden Entertainment facility, including the victory over Commey and his one-sided blowout of two-time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux. He arrived in Southern California last month to resume his career and work toward his goal of capturing the undisputed lightweight title, currently held by Devin “The Dream” Haney.
Robeisy Ramirez celebrates after defeating Abraham Nova, during their featherweight bout, at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on June 18, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
Lomachenko said: “I love my sport and I am very happy to be back. My goal is to win the undisputed lightweight title, but I will not take Jamaine Ortiz lightly. Madison Square Garden and the Hulu Theater at MSG have been special places in my career, and I look forward to more good memories on October 29. I want to dedicate this fight to all my Ukrainian people. I carry the flag with pride every time I step into the ring.”
Ortiz (16-0-1, 8 KOs), from Worcester, Massachusetts, enters this fight hoping to stun another former world champion on the way back. He last fought May 21 in Las Vegas, wearing down Jamel “Semper Fi” Herring down the stretch to win a 10-round unanimous decision. Ortiz is a six-year pro who plied his trade on the New England club scene. Three months before Herring’s triumph, Ortiz won the NABF lightweight belt with a clear decision victory over Nahir Albright. Ortiz made his Top Rank on ESPN debut in April 2021 with a draw of eight against Joseph Adorno, surviving a pair of knockdowns in one of the best action battles of the year.
Ortiz said: “I am excited for this fight. Vasiliy Lomachenko is a great fighter, but I am here to win. Once I win this fight, I will be looking for a world title shot. This is a dream come true.”
Ramírez (10-1, 6 KOs), from Cienfuegos, Cuba, starred in the 2012 London Olympics alongside Lomachenko. He won the first of his gold medals, while Lomachenko dominantly captured gold medal number two. Ramírez ruled the amateur ranks for another six years before defecting from Cuba. Coming off a shock loss in his 2019 pro debut against Adan Gonzales, Ramirez has been flawless during a 10-fight winning streak that has seen him avenge the Gonzales loss and rank in the top 15 of all four major sanctioning organizations. He scored his most notable win to date in June at Hulu Theater on MSG, knocking out previously undefeated Abraham Nova with a left hand in the fifth round. That one-punch knockout propelled Ramirez into the title conversation, and he hopes to land that punch in no time. But first, a former world champion stands in his way.
Ramirez said, “It’s great to be back at the iconic Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. I’m particularly excited to do it as the main event of the night that marks the return of the great Vasiliy Lomachenko, who I admire and consider to be one of the greatest talents of all time. It’s rare to have two two-time Olympic gold medalists on the same card, and it’s an honor for me. For Magdaleno it represents an important challenge since he is an excellent boxer, southpaw and former world champion”.
Magdaleno (29-1, 18 KOs) rose to the top of the junior featherweight division in November 2016 with his decision win over Nonito Donaire. His title reign ended at the hands of Isaac Dogboe in April 2018, but he is 4-0 since he lost to Dogboe and then moved up to featherweight. He shook off an extended layoff in May to knock out Edy Valencia in eight rounds. A Las Vegas native who has showcased his talents at many of the city’s most famous venues, Magdaleno will make his New York City debut against a recently unstoppable train.
Magdaleno said: “I have come to surprise the boxing world. I know what a victory would mean for my career. My goal is to become a two-time world champion and Robeisy Ramirez is on my way. I just know I’m ready.”
In addition to Torrez, three of his fellow Tokyo Olympians will see action under the lights. Tiger Johnson (5-0, 4 KO) makes his New York City debut in a six-round junior welterweight bout, featherweight silver medalist Duke Ragan (7-0, 1 KO) steps up up front in their first scheduled eight-round bout, and Troy Isley (7-0, 4 KOs) tests the junior middleweight waters over eight rounds.
Cleveland-born lightweight sensation Abdullah Mason (4-0, 3 KOs) will fight in his first six-round bout, while junior lightweight Haven Brady Jr. (7-0, 4 KOs) makes his debut in the division in an eight-round bout.
A Top Rank press release was used in this article.
