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Boxing

Jamaine Ortiz explains why beating Teofimo Lopez would be ‘revenge’

Jamaine Ortiz explains why beating Teofimo Lopez would be ‘revenge’Mikey Williams/Top Rank
The pair fight for a world title on Thursday.

Jamaine Ortiz wants to settle his rivalry with Teofimo Lopez that stretches back to their days in the amateurs.

The two super lightweights fight this Thursday (live on ESPN+ in the US) for Lopez’s WBO strap, with the incumbent the favourite.

The Las Vegas clash represents the second time they have fought one another, with the first instance being back in 2015, when he lost to Lopez in the national Golden Gloves tournament.

"I've always wanted to get my revenge," Ortiz told Sky Sports.

"It was a competitive contest. That's what I remember," he said.

"I did [deserve to win it]. I didn't have my coach with me. I felt like if I had my coach and the proper team with me on that fight night I felt like I would have won the fight a lot easier.

"There was nothing about him that popped and said wow he's going to be something special. That never came across my mind.”

The fight is not just one to get revenge, it also offers the chance to be a world champion.

Ortiz added: "It would mean the world to me. That's one of the biggest goals, one of the things that I've been dreaming of and waiting to achieve for a very long time since I became a professional boxer.

"It's been a long time coming so I'm just so excited that I finally get the opportunity. I'm going to make the most of it and I'm going to come home with the victory."

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