Jamain Ortiz gave Vasiliy Lomachenko a serious challenge Saturday night.
However, the savvy former unified world lightweight ruler relied on his experience to dominate his younger challenger over the championship rounds en route to a unanimous decision victory. Judges inside Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City scored it 115-113, 116-112, and 117-111, all in favor of Lomachenko, who was too strong for a spirited Ortiz down the stretch.
Though undisputed lightweight world champion Devin Haney wasn't impressed.
"I think it wasn't the best performance, but I know that if me and Loma were to fight, a better version would be on (display) that night," Haney told ESPN, joining Lomachenko in the ring following the bout. "Hopefully, we could get it on."
Lomachenko responded: "I'll be ready."
In his first bout since December, Lomachenko came out Saturday night a step behind Ortiz, who banked early rounds by bringing the fight to his older opponent. Ortiz did that behind the jab and with a higher punch volume.
But toward the middle of the fight, Lomachenko had downloaded enough intel to begin picking and choosing his spots to score on quick combinations. Although Ortiz hung tough, even switching stances on Lomachenko, the Ukrainian fighter was too much for the game Ortiz over the final few rounds as he changed levels and connected on enough stinging shots to sway the decision in his favor.
Here's how the entire Lomachenko-Ortiz main card went.