By Matt Christie

THE last time Teofimo Lopez returned to action after dethroning a longstanding champion he was the victim of the upset of the year. The talented 26-year-old, who eight months ago beat super-lightweight king Josh Taylor, will need an impressive display against Jamaine Ortiz tonight (February 8) to erase fears about his inconsistency at the top level. The 12-rounder tops a Top Rank show inside Las Vegas’ Michelob Ultra Arena and will be broadcast by ESPN and Sky Sports.

Lopez, 19-1 (13), looked to have achieved superstar status with victory over lightweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko in October 2020. It was a triumph so eye-catching that it was all but unthinkable that he’d lose his first defence to the unfancied George Kambosos Jnr 13 months later. Alas, that’s exactly what happened as the Aussie fought out of his skin, matched Lopez in the machismo stakes and deservedly took the title. Lopez claimed it was an aberration, and not mere overconfidence, as medical documents highlighting his physical ailments were published.

However, Lopez failed to convince in two subsequent bouts up at 140, particularly during a contentious 10-round points win over Sandor Martin, to such an extent that many expected Taylor to prove that the Brooklyn-born braggart was more style than substance. Yet Lopez was hard to fault when he outboxed the Scot inside New York’s Madison Square Garden last June. Though competitive in spots, Taylor – made to look slow – struggled with Lopez’s rapier combinations and couldn’t counter effectively when the younger man burst forward.

Those scalps over Lomachenko and Taylor point to a special talent, no question. Now he must prove he can retain his focus when he’s widely expected to win, like he is against the 27-year-old Jamaine Ortiz, 17-1-1 (8).

From Worcester, Massachusetts, Ortiz was among a talented crop of US amateurs. In the vest he defeated several good fighters like Richardson Hitchins, split bouts with Abraham Nova, but he would lose to Jaron Ennis, Gary Antuanne Russell and, back in the 2015 National Golden Gloves, a young Teofimo Lopez.

In the professional ranks, Ortiz has made decent progress since turning over in 2016. In 2022, he outpointed Nahir Albright over 10 and followed that with another points win against Jamel Herring. That set up a bout with Lomachenko, who was rebuilding after the loss to Lopez, in that October. Ortiz was far from overawed against the legendary Ukrainian but he was deservedly down on all three cards at the end of 12. As learning fights go, Ortiz – who is confident and ambitious – will have taken plenty from it. Since then, Ortiz soundly decisioned Antonio Moran last September.

There is now talk that victory for Lopez, a 13/8 favourite, will lead to a fight with Devin Haney whose father and trainer, Bill Haney, is helping Ortiz for this fight. “I told Jamaine I had mixed emotions,” Bill said. “Obviously, he coming in to steal something that’s the ultimate grudge match in Lopez. But him, as my Muslim brother, I will not deny him of any information or intel I got in beating the Lopez family. You know what I’m saying? But it’s bittersweet, you hear me?”

No amount of intel is going to turn Ortiz into Devin Haney, however. Though he has fast hands, he can switch stances and is dangerous on the front foot, he seems to lack the cute elusiveness, as he lingers in the pocket a little too long, that’s required to win. Haney will no doubt have been working on better movement from Ortiz, to jab and roll away, to attack and then change the angles instead of standing and admiring his own work.

Though he started brightly against Lomachenko, he faded down the stretch and his habit of going forward in straight lines was exploited.

Lopez looks the better all-round boxer, but question marks remain: The health issues against Kambosos; the broken hand endured three weeks before he fought Martin; the raging confidence that can border on insecurity. Even so, Ortiz winning here would be a shock. Lopez, the WBO belt-holder, to win a competitive encounter on points.

Norfolk, Virginia hotshot Keyshawn Davis, 9-0 (6), takes another step up the ladder on the undercard when he encounters perennial contender Jose Pedraza, 29-5-1 (14). It’s sensible matchmaking – Pedraza hasn’t won since June 2021 and though he’s always competitive, Davis has to be a big favourite. Expect the Puerto Rican veteran to hear the final bell but fall short on the judges’ cards.

The Verdict – A solid midweek matchup in which Lopez must show he can cope with the pressure of being favourite.