The Matrix Takes Manhattan: Vasiliy Lomachenko to Face Unbeaten
Contender Jamaine Ortiz in Lightweight Main Event at Hulu Theater at
Madison Square Garden LIVE on ESPN+
Lomachenko-Ortiz and Robeisy Ramirez-Jessie Magdaleno featherweight
co-feature headline an NYC fight extravaganza that will stream live and
exclusively on ESPN+
Tickets starting at $56 go on sale Thursday, September 15 at 12 p.m. ET
and will be available to purchase at Ticketmaster.com
NEW YORK (Sept. 12, 2022) — Ukraine’s former pound-for-pound king,
the man known as “Loma,” is back.
Vasiliy Lomachenko, a three-weight world champion, will make his
triumphant New York City return in the 12-round main event Saturday,
October 29 against undefeated contender Jamaine “The Technician”
Ortiz at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.
The 10-round featherweight co-feature sees two-time Cuban Olympic gold
medalist Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez attempt to author a career-best
win against former world champion Jessie Magdaleno.
U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (3-0, 3 KOs), who is
coming off a 44-second knockout over Marco Antonio Canedo in August,
looks to make it 4-0 in a six-round heavyweight special feature.
Lomachenko-Ortiz, Ramirez-Magdaleno, and Torrez Jr. headline a card that
will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+. Promoted by Top Rank, tickets
starting at $56 go on sale Thursday, September 15 at 12 p.m. ET and will
be available to purchase at Ticketmaster.com [2].
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.”
Ramirez (10-1, 6 KOs), from Cienfuegos, Cuba, starred at the 2012 London
Olympics alongside Lomachenko. He won the first of his gold medals,
while Lomachenko dominantly captured gold medal number two. Ramirez
ruled the amateur ranks for another six years before defecting from
Cuba. After a stunning loss in his 2019 professional debut against Adan
Gonzales, Ramirez has been flawless during a 10-fight winning streak
that has seen him avenge the Gonzales loss and crack the top 15 of all
four major sanctioning organizations. He authored his most notable
victory to date in June at Hulu Theater at MSG, knocking out the
previously undefeated Abraham Nova with a left hand in the fifth round.
That one-shot knockout propelled Ramirez into the title conversation,
and he hopes to get that shot before long. But, first, a former world
champion stands in his way.
Ramirez said, “It is great to be back at the iconic Hulu Theater at
Madison Square Garden. I am particularly excited to do so as co-main
event of the evening that marks the return of the great Vasiliy
Lomachenko, whom I admire and consider 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 is an honor for me. As far as Magdaleno is concerned,
he represents an important challenge as he is an excellent boxer, a
southpaw, and a former world champion.”
Magdaleno (29-1, 18 KOs) ascended to the top of the junior featherweight
division in November 2016 with his decision victory over Nonito Donaire.
His title reign ended at the hands of Isaac Dogboe in April 2018, but he
is 4-0 since losing to Dogboe and subsequently moving up to
featherweight. He shook off an extended layoff in May to shut out Edy
Valencia over eight rounds. A native of Las Vegas who has showcased his
talents at many of the city’s most storied venues, Magdaleno will be
making his New York City debut against a recently unstoppable train.
Magdaleno said, “I am coming to shock 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 in my way. Just know that I am
ready.”
In addition to Torrez, three of his Olympic teammates from Tokyo will
see action under the lights. Tiger Johnson (5-0, 4 KOs) makes his New
York City debut in a six-round junior welterweight bout, featherweight
silver medalist Duke Ragan (7-0, 1 KO) steps up in his first scheduled
eight-rounder, and Troy Isley (7-0, 4 KOs) tests the junior middleweight
waters in an eight-rounder.
Cleveland-born lightweight sensation Abdullah Mason (4-0, 3 KOs) will
fight in his first six-rounder, while junior lightweight Haven Brady Jr.
(7-0, 4 KOs) makes his division debut in an eight-rounder.
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