Vasiliy Lomachenko and Jamaine Ortiz on Friday weighted for their scheduled 12-round lightweight bout Saturday at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York (ESPN+).
Lomachenko weighed 134.6 pounds, 0.4 below the division limit. Ortiz came in at 134.
Weight is typical. Only the decision not to wear sunglasses after Ortiz’s weight was abnormal. He removed them while looking down compulsively.
Lomachenko, the former weight champion, is leading 2-0 since he lost to Teofimo Lopez unanimously in October 2020. That cost the Ukrainian an undisputed £135 title.
Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KOs) hasn’t been in a fight since last December before the fight in his country.
Ortiz (16-0-1, 8 KOs) is enjoying the biggest win of his career, a unanimous decision over former president Jamel Herring this past May.
The two fought each other over Lomachenko’s unanimous decision win over Richard Commey last December.
Lomachenko respects his opponent, who hails from Worcester, Massachusetts.
“I know he’s a good, technical boxer,” he said after weighing. “He has very good speed. He knows boxing.”
Ortiz said the match was a good experience but maybe not so much on Saturday night.
“It’s hard to say because it’s intense,” he said. “You are not really 100%. A person who is preparing for a certain fight, practicing certain techniques. The other person is trying to imitate [opponent]. “
Passes start at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. The main event will take place later in the show.
