After spending nearly a full year out of the ring helping his native Ukraine in the ongoing Russian invasion, the 34-year-old Vasily Lomachenko will try to reassert his lightweight dominance this coming Saturday when he takes on Jamaine Ortiz.
Ortiz (16-0-1, 8 KOs) is determined to spoil the return of Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KOs), who will enter their fight as the favorite. If the two-time Olympian proves the bookmakers right, Bob Arum, his current promoter, will look to put him in the ring against reigning undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney.
If Lomachenko defeats Haney, in the next fight, Arum will offer him to defend his absolute throne with Shakur Stevenson. In any case, given the possibility of a fight with both Haney and Stevenson, Lomachenko stated in one of his last interviews that despite the fact that Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) owns all lightweight titles, he is considering Stevenson ( 19-0.9 KOs) as his toughest possible opponent.
“I think the fight with Shakur Stevenson will be more difficult,” Lomachenko said in an interview. "I think he's more technical."
Haney, as he himself has already stated, will be happy to face Lomachenko early next year after two trips to Melbourne to fight George Kambosos Jr. The end result was historic as Haney became the youngest fighter in the four belt era to win undisputed champion status.
Stevenson, on the other hand, after failing to meet the super featherweight limit before his final outing against Robson Conceição, announced that he would continue his career at lightweight.
Stevenson openly accepts the opportunity to face Lomachenko in his debut fight at 61 kg. However, with Haney firmly holding on to every world title, in his new weight class, the former Olympic silver medalist is more likely to take on Haney in his new weight class. The trio of Haney, Lomachenko and Stevenson appear to be on track for a bang between themselves, and the former unified lightweight champion will be keeping Stevenson on his toes.
