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Jamaine Ortiz hated the idea of gaining weight. Well, actually all fighters do that, but the lightweight limit has become too difficult to achieve. Although he came up just short against Vasily Lomachenko, Ortiz failed to qualify for his next bout at 135 pounds, forcing him into a catchweight bout with Antonio Moran.
From there, it was natural for Ortiz (17-1-1, 8 KOs) to move up to super lightweight. Heading into his debut, the 27-year-old was hoping for a meaningful bout that brought both star power and a world title. Teofimo López was the perfect dance partner. He’s flashy, talkative, and has skills you can’t teach.
Officially, on February 8th, the two will jump into the ring and attempt to rip each other’s heads off. In Lopez’s case, he has built his career on the backs of great fighters. In 2020, many considered Lomachenko to be the best fighter on the planet. However, Lopez found the idea ridiculous.
Not many people called him, but Lopez banged loudly on Lomachenko’s door. Once the bout started, Lopez (19-1, 13 KOs) proved he wasn’t all talk, winning a close decision. Years later, Lopez did it again. This time it was against Josh Taylor.
Ortiz is not used to bright lights. He faced two former world champions in Lomachenko and Jamel Herring, but the fight against Lopez elevated him to a completely different stage.
Lopez, 26, has what Ortiz wants. Since turning pro in 2016, Ortiz has always believed he would eventually climb the ladder and strap a title around his waist. With his showdown with Lopez just over a month away, Ortiz believes everything is finally falling into place.
“This is the most important fight,” Ortiz told Mill City Boxing. “I’m ready to be world champion.”
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