Sky’s the limit for CES’ Ortiz as unbeaten NABF and USBA champion cracks the top 10 among world-rated lightweights

Worcester, MA – The accolades continue to roll in for NABF and UBSA lightweight champion Jamaine Ortiz.Fresh off his big win over former Olympian and world champion Jamel Herring on ESPN, the Worcester, MA, native is now ranked No. 9 in the WBC among lightweights – the highest ranking of his career – positioning himself for a major opportunity to showcase his talent on the right platform in 2022.

“It feels great. It makes you step back and think, ‘Wow, time has really gone by,’” Ortiz sad. “It’s definitely an accomplishment, but even more of a motivator.

“The people around me feel happy because I’ve been with the same team since Day 1. I’m taking everyone with me. I feel people around me are proud and it gives them hope that, ‘Yes, you can make it out of here this way.’ The grass isn’t always greener elsewhere. I’ve proven that by consistency, hard work, pushing yourself, and taking hard fights, you’ll get there as well.

“I’m not shocked that I’m here because I envisioned myself being here,” Ortiz continued. “I’ve been a world champion before having the belt around my waist. I know it’ll happen. There’s no question about it.”

Ortiz, 16-0-1 with eight knockouts, is promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s CES Boxing. With his decisive win over Herring on May 21 in Nevada, the 5-foot-8 right-hander has captivated boxing audiences with his diverse skill set and humble, soft-spoken demeanor.

Ortiz rose through the amateur ranks, compiling a record of 100-14 and competing in in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials before making his pro debut later that year. A former apprentice carpenter, Ortiz has won three major titles in just under six years, first capturing the WBC World Youth Championship in 2019 followed by a victory over Nahir Albright on Showtime to add the NABF title. And on a night in which he says he was inexplicably calm from the ring walk to the opening bell, he captured the USBA title with the win over Herring, ensuring a top-10 world ranking and a seat at the table among the sport’s elite lightweights.

Now is a great time to compete as a 135-pounder. The lightweight division has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years with stars Gervonta Davis, Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, Teofimo Lopez, and George Kambosos Jr., among others, ushering in a new era of under-30 lightweights competing in the some of the sport’s most celebrated rivalries. With his new No. 9 ranking, Ortiz is just five spots behind Kambosos, the former WBA, IBF, and WBO world champion; seven spots behind Garcia; and eight spots behind No. 1 challenger Vasyl Lomachenko, who has competed at lightweight for the past three years after dominating the 126- and 130-pound divisions.

Haney currently rules the roost as the undisputed lightweight champion – the first in this division in the four-belt era – boasting all four major belts after upending Kambosos earlier this month, but title reigns have been fleeting in this current era of parity at 135 pounds; the WBA, IBF, and WBO titles have changed hands three times since October of 2020 with only the WBC belt, which has been held by Haney since 2019, having had any semblance of a permanent home in recent years.

What does it all mean for Ortiz? The unification of the belts by Haney gives the division more of a dynasty with one fighter sitting comfortably atop the throne, but the race to be next line is a tight one, with perhaps only Haney and Garcia as the logical choices to challenge Haney for lightweight supremacy. There’s also the issue of the rematch clause included in the original Haney-Kambosos contract, which Kambosos reportedly plans to exercise. Regardless, Ortiz is in the conversation and knows another impressive showing in his next fight – and beyond – will continue to position him the opportunity of a lifetime.

“The trend now is everyone wants to be undisputed,” Ortiz said. “A lot of people think there are too many champions in boxing anyway, so it’s great in the sense that whoever wins gets all the titles and you’re truly the champion.”

Until the next opportunity comes, Ortiz will stay sharp to ensure he’s ready when he gets the call. This week, he travels to Puerto Rico to work with one of his trainers, Alex Caraballo, and take advantage of a few marketing opportunities – podcasts, public appearances, etc. – as he continues to build his brand outside of Worcester and the United States. At No. 9 in the rankings, “The Technician” Ortiz is on the cusp of becoming a household name.

“I’m constantly trying to market myself and just improve each day,” Ortiz said. “Puerto Rico doesn’t have a top lightweight right now and I feel I can be that lightweight champion. I hope they welcome me with open arms.”

For more information, follow CES Boxing on FacebookInstagram and Twitter at @CESBOXING.

 
INFORMATION
CES Boxing is one of the top promotions in the northeast and one of the few to successfully promote both mixed martial arts and professional boxing. Launched in 1992 by longtime boxing judge Jimmy Burchfield Sr., the promotion is the only in professional boxing to boast two reigning WBC Youth world champions in lightweight Jamaine Ortiz and featherweight Irvin Gonzalez. CES Boxing recently teamed with UFC FIGHT PASS, the world’s No. 1 streaming platform for combat sports, to showcase its events to a worldwide audience, and worked as a promotional consultant for the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. pay-per-view event in November of 2020.



Alimkhanuly Destroys Dignim in 2; Wins Interim Middleweight Title

Janibek Alimkhanuly firmly cemented himself as one of the top-middleweights in the world as he captured the WBO Interim Middleweight title with a two-round thrashing of Danny Dignum at Resorts World Las Vegas.

In round one, Alimkhanuly dropped Dignum with a left hand. Round two saw Alimkhanuly land a vicious combination that punctuated by a left to the head and left uppercut that put Dignim flat on his back and the fight was called at 2:11.

Alimkhanuly, 160 lbs of Kazakhstan is now 12-0 with eight knockouts. Dignum, 159 lbs of Essex, ENG is 14-1-1.

“I am in the ring right now, and I want to tell every champion in this weight class, I am here waiting for you. I am asking every champion to come and fight me,” Janibek said. “I told {Dignum} I wish him luck in the future. I think he’s a good fighter. He showed good skills and has a big future.”

Said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, “Janibek is the next middleweight superstar. There is no doubt that he is the future of the division. What a sensational performance from a great young man and fighter.”

Jamaine Ortiz Decisions Jamel Herring

Jamaine Ortiz scored the biggest win of his career as he won a 10-round unanimous decision over former world champion Jamel Herring in a lightweight fight.

Ortiz landed 186 of punches; Herring was 115 of 429.

Ortiz, 135 lbs of Worcester, MA won by scores of 97-93 twice and 96-94 and is now 16-0-1. Herring, 135 lbs of Coram, NY is 21-4.

“I still got a lot of work to do. I’m just growing and going at the pace I’m going. I gotta learn quick. I gotta pick things up a little bit. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I’m here to prove I’m the best to myself, not anyone else,” Ortiz said. “I feel like I could’ve done a lot better, a lot cleaner {of a} performance. I’m hard on myself. I’m always going to be hard on myself. Much respect to a former world champion. That was an achievement I wanted to do in my career.”

Herring said, “He had a better output. I wasn’t tired or anything. He just beat me to the draw…. Jamaine was just the better man. Maybe this is it.”

Tiger Johnson Stops Kucharski in 3

2021 United States Olympian Tiger Johnson stopped Agustin Kucharski in round three of their six-round welterweight bout.

In round one, Kucharski had blood around the right eye.

In round three, Johnson dropped Kucharski twice with the finisher being a right to the head. Kucharski’s corner threw in the towel at 54 seconds.

Johnson, 142.4 lbs of Cleveland, OH is4-0 with three knockouts. Kucharski, 143.2 lbs of Cordoba, ARG is 8-5-1.

Adam Lopez got off the canvas twice to come back and win a eight-round unanimous decision over William Encarnacion in a featherweight bout.

In round one, Encarnacion dropped Lopez with a left hook. In round three, it was a counter right that put Lopez on the canvas.

Lopez, 126.8 lbs of Glendale, CA won by scores of 7-74 twice and 76-74 and is now 16-3. Encarnacion, 126.2 lbs of San Juan de la Manguia, DR is 19-3.

Karlos Balderas won an six-round unanimous decision over Ruben Cervera in a junior lightweight bout.

In round one, Balderas landed a counter left that sent Cervera to the canvas. In round three, it was another left hook that deposited Cervera on the deck.

Balderas, 132 lbs of Santa Maria, CA won by scores of 58-54 twice and 57-55 and is now 13-1. Cervera, 130.8 lbs of Santa Maria, CA is 130-3.

Former world champion Jessie Magdaleno came back from a two-year layoff to win an eight-round unanimous decision over Edy Valencia in a featherweight bout.

Magdaleno, 127.2 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 80-72 on all cards and is now 29-1. Valencia, 126.8 lbs of Culican, MEX is 19-7-6.

Duke Ragan remained undefeated with a four-round unanimous decision over Victorino Gonzalez in a featherweight bout.

Ragan, 127.6 lbs of Cincinnati, OH won by 40-36 scores on all cards and is now 6-0. Gonzalez, 127 lbs of Pawleys Island, SC is 5-3.

Giovanni Cabrera remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision over Elias Araujo in a lightweight bout.

Cabrera, 135.4 lbs of Chicago, IL won by scores of 79-72, 78-73 and 77-74 and is now 20-0. Araujo, 135.4 lbs of Monte Comlin, ARG is 21-5.




NABF, USBA belts up grabs Saturday as unbeaten Ortiz faces ex-Olympian Herring live on ESPN

Las Vegas – The stage is set for Saturday night’s 10-round NABF and USBA lightweight championship showdown between undefeated CES Boxing and Worcester, MA, prospect Jamaine Ortiz and former U.S. Olympian, former junior world champion, and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jamel Herring live on ESPN, ESPN+, and ESPN Deportes from Resorts World Event Center in Las Vegas.

The event, promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank Promotions in association with CES, also features a 12-round WBO Interim middleweight world title showdown between Janibek “Qazaq Style” Alimkhanuly and undefeated Englishman Danny Dignum. The Ortiz-Herring showdown kicks off the live broadcast at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT.

TALE OF THE TAPE
Jamaine Ortiz | @jamaineortiz
Nickname
: The Technician
Record: 15-0-1, 8 KOs
Age: 26
Height: 5’8″
Hometown: Worcester, MA

Career highlights:

Compiled a record of 100-14 as an amateur

Competed in 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials in Reno, NV

Stopped Josh Parker at the 3:00 mark of the opening round in his professional debut in 2016

In February of 2019, defeated previously unbeaten Ricardo Quiroz of California to capture the vacant WBC World Youth Lightweight Title

Headlined first fight in his hometown of Worcester in 2020 with a first-round knockout win over 22-win veteran Luis Castillo

Became the first fighter to stop challenger Sulaiman Segawa, finishing his opponent in the seventh round of a scheduled eight-round bout on the undercard of the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones pay-per-view event in California in November of 2020

In his first appearance on ESPN, fought to a draw against fellow unbeaten lightweight Joseph Adorno in 2021, surviving two knockdowns to keep his unbeaten record intact

Headlined telecast of Showtime’s ShoBox: The New Generation in February and dominated challenger Nahir Albright to capture the NABF title

On facing Herring: “Jamel Herring is a tremendous fighter with an impeccable resume, and I have all the respect in the world for what he’s accomplished, but on May 21, he’s stepping into my ring in my weight class, and I will show him – and the entire world – why I’m the future at 135 pounds. What you saw in February against Nahir Albright is simply a preview of what’s to come. We’ve only scratched the surface. I’m looking forward to adding more titles to my own resume as I climb the ladder in 2022.”

____________

Jamel Herring | @jamelherring
Nickname: Semper Fi
Record: 23-3, 11 KOs
Age: 36
Height: 5’10”
Hometown: Long Island, NY

Career highlights:

U.S. Marine Corps veteran

Deployed to Iraq in 2005

Held the WBO junior lightweight title from 2019 to 2021 and is ranked as the world’s fourth best active junior lightweight by The Ring

Won a gold medal at the 2011 and 2012 Armed Forces Championships

Qualified for the 2012 Olympics in London and was the only Marine to compete and the first active duty Marine to qualify for the U.S. boxing team since 1992

Defeated Masayuki Ito to win the WBO junior lightweight title in 2019

In his first title defense, defeated Lamont Roach Jr. via unanimous decision, 117-111 twice and 115-113

Defeated former two-division champion Carl Frampton in Dubai in 2021 via sixth-round technical knockout to retain his WBO title

On facing Ortiz: “I’m happy to be back, starting the new year with a fresh start. A lot has changed since I was last in the ring. I am working with a new trainer, Manny Robles, and returning to the lightweight division for this upcoming fight. I’m optimistic that a victory here will place me back in the title picture at either lightweight or junior lightweight.”

Visit CESFights.com for more information. Updates on CES Boxing can also be found on Facebook in addition to Instagram and Twitter by following @CESBoxing.

 
INFORMATION

CES Boxing is one of the top promotions in the northeast and one of the few to successfully promote both mixed martial arts and professional boxing. Launched in 1992 by longtime boxing judge Jimmy Burchfield Sr., the promotion is the only in professional boxing to boast two reigning WBC Youth world champions in lightweight Jamaine Ortiz and featherweight Irvin Gonzalez. CES Boxing recently teamed with UFC FIGHT PASS, the world’s No. 1 streaming platform for combat sports, to showcase its events to a worldwide audience, and worked as a promotional consultant for the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. pay-per-view event in November of 2020.

Resorts World Las Vegas was developed by Genting Berhad, a publicly traded Malaysian corporation registered with the Nevada Gaming Commission. The company has affiliated operations in the Americas, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the Bahamas. In partnership with Hilton, Resorts World Las Vegas integrates three of Hilton’s premium brands into its resort campus, including Las Vegas Hilton, the resort’s full-service brand; Conrad Las Vegas, Hilton’s lifestyle luxury brand; and LXR, Hilton’s network of independent luxury properties, which operates as Crockfords Las Vegas, Genting’s internationally renowned ultra-luxury brand. Resorts World Las Vegas features 3,506 guest rooms and suites, an innovative, next-generation gaming floor, world-class food and beverage options, a 5,000-capacity theatre, distinct nightlife venues, a curated retail collection of designer and boutique shops and more. The integrated resort weaves time-honored traditions of the international Resorts World brand into the fabric of Las Vegas, introducing a bold, fresh take on hospitality to the city with stunning design, progressive technology and world-class guest service. Resorts World Las Vegas is?Sharecare Health Security VERIFIED™?with?Forbes Travel Guide,?a verification that ensures the resort has appropriate health safety procedures in place.




Ortiz ready to take the next step May 21 on ESPN against Olympian and ex-champion Herring

Worcester, MA (April 27) – Jamaine Ortiz has reached the point in his career where each upcoming fight is his toughest test to date. No more tune-ups. No more cakewalks. And certainly no more stay-busy fights.

His upcoming bout is no exception. On Saturday, May 21 live on ESPN, ESPN+, and ESPN Deportes from Resorts World Event Center in Las Vegas, NV, the undefeated, reigning NABF 135-pound champion Ortiz (15-0-1, 8 KOs) faces former U.S. Olympian, former junior world champion, and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jamel Herring (23-3, 11 KOs) in a 10-round bout for both Ortiz’s NABF title and the vacant USBA lightweight title.

The fight kicks off ESPN’s live coverage beginning at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT. Tickets are on sale now via Etix.com. The event, promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank Promotions, also features a 12-round WBO Interim middleweight world title showdown between Janibek “Qazaq Style” Alimkhanuly and undefeated Englishman Danny Dignum.

“Every fight is tougher than the last one. That’s what’s expected,” Ortiz said. “At the end of the day, I want to prove I’m the best and the only way to do that is to continue taking challenges, even some you may not be ready for or some you don’t anticipate.

“But if the people who are behind believe you’re ready, you have to go for it. And I’m ready. I’m not scared of any challenge.”

The 26-year-old Ortiz is looking to simply seize yet another opportunity on boxing’s biggest stage. “The Technician,” a Worcester, MA, native signed with Jimmy Burchfield’s CES Boxing, showcased his array of talents February 18 on Showtime’s ShoBox: The New Generation in a convincing, unanimous-decision win over Nahir Albright, which, like his last few fights, was billed at the time as the toughest of his career.

Now the real test begins. In Herring, Ortiz is facing a 2012 U.S. Olympian who began his career at 135 pounds before finding unrivaled success at super featherweight, which included an impressive knockout over Juan Pablo Sanchez, an upset win over Masayuki Ito for the WBO 130-pound crown, and subsequent title defenses against Lamont Roach Jr., Jonathan Oquendo, and Carl Frampton before losing the belt to Shakur Stevenson in 2021. He’s back at 135 looking to add his name to the mix among the lightweight division’s elite.

So is Ortiz. His first real taste of the boxing limelight came in November of 2020 when he became the first fighter to stop challenger Sulaiman Segawa, finishing his opponent in the seventh round of a scheduled eight-round bout on the undercard of the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones pay-per-view event in California. In April of 2021, his first appearance on ESPN, he fought to a draw against fellow unbeaten lightweight Joseph Adorno, surviving two knockdowns to keep his unbeaten record intact.

That fight may have been the turning point that resulted in February’s dominant performance against Albright, who entered the bout with seven knockouts on his resume and had just demolished renowned prospect Michael Dutchover. Unnerved by Albright’s recent surge, Ortiz put on a clinic that night in Orlando, out-boxing Albright en route to a relatively stress-free 98-92, 97-93, 97-93 win.

“I tried to adjust some of the mistakes I made from the [Adorno] fight,” Ortiz said. “I took my time and spent more time boxing. I’m not just a guy that comes in there and throws a bunch of punches. I’m trying to get hit less so I can be back in the ring quicker.

“You have to think about being smarter,” he continued. “Since I turned pro, my goal has been to entertain the fans. There are ways to do that, either through social media or by fighting a fan-friendly style. I don’t have a lot of crazy knockouts, but I feel like I have an entertaining style. I’m getting away from that concept a bit and trying to preserve my body a little more and be more conscious. You don’t have to fight every second of every round.”

Realizing he played into Adorno’s hands in April of 2021 by engaging in a slugfest with the hard-hitting right-hander, Ortiz made the right adjustments against Albright, who left the ring frustrated and battered by Ortiz’s impeccable hand speed and footwork.

Herring, who turns 37 in October, is clearly in a different class from Ortiz’s previous opponents, but the mindset is the same – move, box, defend, and stay out of danger.

“He’s a tough dude – very mentally strong,” Ortiz said of Herring, “and being a Marine, you already know he’s coming in shape. He’s disciplined. This is not going to be easy, but I believe I have the better skill set. Him being a former world champ and getting older and me coming up the ladder, this is the perfect fight for me. It was a no-brainer.”

Earlier in his career, Ortiz had just as much going on outside of the ring as he did between the ropes, first working as a carpenter’s apprentice and most recently getting involved in selling real estate. With each fight, he transitions more and more toward becoming a full-time boxer who eats, sleeps, and breathes the sport. He’s brought others into his circle to handle various day-to-day affairs, allowing him to focus on his craft, and he admits to taking more moments to truly appreciate where he is and embrace the moment. At 26, these are his prime years, and he knows he’s one or two more wins away from the potential opportunity of a lifetime in boxing’s hottest weight class.

“A win puts me in the discussion. That’s what I’m hoping for,” Ortiz said. “You’ve just got to keep your head down, keep working, and focus on the plan. I’ve always been an opportunist and you’ve got to be ready when that opportunity presents itself. I could make more money working a normal job, but I’ve made the sacrifices I need to make for the time being for moments like this.”

Visit CESFights.com for more information. Updates on CES Boxing can also be found on Facebook in addition to Instagram and Twitter by following @CESBoxing.

INFORMATION

CES Boxing is one of the top promotions in the northeast and one of the few to successfully promote both mixed martial arts and professional boxing. Launched in 1992 by longtime boxing judge Jimmy Burchfield Sr., the promotion is the only in professional boxing to boast two reigning WBC Youth world champions in lightweight Jamaine Ortiz and featherweight Irvin Gonzalez. CES Boxing recently teamed with UFC FIGHT PASS, the world’s No. 1 streaming platform for combat sports, to showcase its events to a worldwide audience, and worked as a promotional consultant for the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. pay-per-view event in November of 2020.




Janibek Alimkhanuly-Danny Dignum Interim Middleweight Title Clash and the Return of Jamel Herring Set for May 21 at Resorts World Las Vegas and LIVE on ESPN

LAS VEGAS (April 25, 2022) — Middleweight contender Janibek “Qazaq Style” Alimkhanuly has been anxiously waiting for the main event spotlight, and on Saturday, May 21, he’ll hope to seize it. Alimkhanuly will face undefeated Englishman Danny Dignum in a 12-round showdown for the vacant WBO Interim middleweight world title at Resorts World Event Center at Resorts World Las Vegas.

In the co-feature, former junior world champion Jamel “Semper Fi” Herring returns to the lightweight division in a 10-rounder against undefeated NABF titleholder Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz.

Alimkhanuly-Dignum, and Herring-Ortiz will air live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets starting at $25 go on sale Tuesday, April 26 at 10 a.m. PT, and can be purchased at Etix.com.

“Janibek is a special talent, one of the very best to come from Eastern Europe in recent years,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “He’s getting the platform he deserves — a Las Vegas main event on ESPN — and I expect him to look sensational against a tough Englishman like Danny Dignum. Janibek has everything it takes to reign as middleweight world champion for a very long time.”

Alimkhanuly (11-0, 7 KOs) is a 2016 Olympian who has been on the fast track to a world title shot ever since knocking out 50-fight veteran Milton Nuñez in his pro debut. The Kazakh southpaw then racked up eight additional wins before scoring eighth-round stoppages over former world champions Rob Brant and Hassan N’Dam. Despite only 11 fights, Alimkhanuly has become an actively avoided fighter within his division, as several recognizable names at 160 pounds chose other options when opportunity knocked. With this shot at the interim title, he’ll finally get his chance on the main event stage.

Alimkhanuly said, “Demetrius Andrade and Jaime Munguia avoided fighting me, so I give Danny Dignum a lot of credit for stepping up to the plate. I will show the entire world true ‘Qazaq Style’ on May 21, and I will leave the ring as the WBO Interim middleweight champion. While the division’s top names are avoiding me, they won’t be able to run forever. I can’t wait to put on a spectacular showing at Resorts World Las Vegas.”

Dignum (14-0-1, 8 KOs) spent the better part of his amateur career at light heavyweight. In fact, the Essex, England, native had never made the 160-pound limit until November 2019, when he scored a fifth-round TKO over Conrad Cummings to snatch the WBO European crown. Dignum has made three defenses of his regional title, one of which ended in a split draw against Andrey Sirotkin. In February, he knocked down Grant Dennis three times en route to a sixth-round stoppage victory. Dignum will enter the ring with a height and size advantage in this all-southpaw battle.

Dignum said, “I am absolutely buzzing to be fighting Janibek for the WBO Interim middleweight world title. It’s a dream come true to be headlining a show in Las Vegas. All the sacrifice over the years has been worth it to get to this point. I’m very confident in my ability and will be coming to Resorts World to win that title.”

Herring (23-3, 11 KOs), a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and 2012 U.S. Olympian, began his pro career with a somewhat difficult run at 135 pounds. However, after signing with Top Rank and dropping down to junior lightweight, he revitalized his career with an impressive knockout over Juan Pablo Sanchez on the undercard of Jorge Linares-Vasiliy Lomachenko. Herring only needed two additional fights before upsetting Masayuki Ito for the WBO 130-pound crown. Herring made three tough defenses against Lamont Roach Jr., Jonathan Oquendo and Carl Frampton before losing his belt to Shakur Stevenson in October 2021. With this championship experience under his belt, Herring is ready to give it another go at 135 pounds.

Herring said, “I’m happy to be back, starting the new year with a fresh start. A lot has changed since I was last in the ring. I am working with a new trainer, Manny Robles, and returning to the lightweight division for this upcoming fight. I’m optimistic that a victory here will place me back in the title picture at either lightweight or junior lightweight.”

Ortiz (15-0-1, 8 KOs) is a quick-handed boxer whose only blemish is a majority draw against then-undefeated prospect Joseph Adorno. The 25-year-old demonstrated speed and volume punching in that fight, qualities that helped him obtain a unanimous decision win over Nahir Albright back in February to capture the NABF crown. This will be a considerable step up in opposition for Ortiz, who will have his second shot at fighting on a Top Rank on ESPN card.

Ortiz said, “Jamel Herring is a tremendous fighter with an impeccable resume, and I have all the respect in the world for what he’s accomplished, but on May 21, he’s stepping into my ring in my weight class, and I will show him – and the entire world – why I’m the future at 135 pounds. What you saw in February against Nahir Albright is simply a preview of what’s to come. We’ve only scratched the surface. I’m looking forward to adding more titles to my own resume as I climb the ladder in 2022.”
 # # #
About Resorts World Las Vegas
Resorts World Las Vegas was developed by Genting Berhad, a publicly traded Malaysian corporation registered with the Nevada Gaming Commission. The company has affiliated operations in the Americas, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the Bahamas. In partnership with Hilton, Resorts World Las Vegas integrates three of Hilton’s premium brands into its resort campus, including Las Vegas Hilton, the resort’s full-service brand; Conrad Las Vegas, Hilton’s lifestyle luxury brand; and LXR, Hilton’s network of independent luxury properties, which operates as Crockfords Las Vegas, Genting’s internationally renowned ultra-luxury brand. Resorts World Las Vegas features 3,506 guest rooms and suites, an innovative, next-generation gaming floor, world-class food and beverage options, a 5,000-capacity theatre, distinct nightlife venues, a curated retail collection of designer and boutique shops and more. The integrated resort weaves time-honored traditions of the international Resorts World brand into the fabric of Las Vegas, introducing a bold, fresh take on hospitality to the city with stunning design, progressive technology and world-class guest service. Resorts World Las Vegas is?Sharecare Health Security VERIFIED™?with?Forbes Travel Guide,?a verification that ensures the resort has appropriate health safety procedures in place.?For?more information, visit?rwlasvegas.com?or find us on?Facebook,?LinkedIn,?Twitter?and?Instagram.

About Genting Group
Genting Group comprises Genting Berhad (KLSE: GENTING), the holding company, and its listed companies Genting Malaysia Berhad (KLSE: GENM), Genting Plantations Berhad (KLSE: GENP) and Genting Singapore Limited (SGX: G13). Genting Group is involved in leisure and hospitality, power generation, oil and gas, property development, life sciences and biotechnology activities, with operations spanning across the globe, including in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, India, China, the United States of America, Bahamas and the United Kingdom. Genting Group is a leader in the global gaming and hospitality industry. Founded in 1965, Genting Group has more than 50 years of experience in developing and operating destination resorts in the Americas, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the Bahamas, offering an unparalleled resort experience and iconic entertainment attractions to over 50 million visitors a year. For more information, visit?www.genting.com




Ortiz Decisions Albright

ORLANDO, FL–Jamaine Ortiz won a 10-round unanimous decision over Nahir Albright at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida.

Ortiz, 134 1/4 lbs of Worcester, MA won by scores of 98-92 and 97-93 twice and is now 15-0-1. Albright, 134 lbs of Sicklerville, NJ is 13-2.

Paul Kroll and Marquis Taylor fought to an eight-round split draw in a junior middleweight fight.

Although Taylor outlanded Kroll 109-84, the judges score cards read 80-72 Taylor, 77-75 Kroll and 76-76.

Taylor, 151 3/4 lbs of Houston, TX is 12-1-2. Kroll, 153 1/4 lbs of Philadelphia is 9-0-1.




Time to shine: Ortiz headlines ShoBox: The New Generation tomorrow night against hard-hitting Albright

Orlando (February 17) – Boxing’s biggest platforms are generally reserved for its biggest stars, the headliners who generate millions in ticket sales, pay-per-view buys, and social media clicks.

For an up-and-coming fighter who has yet to break through that glass ceiling, Showtime’s long-running series, ShoBox: The New Generation, is the next best thing to overnight success.

Since its inception in 2001, The New Generation has developed into boxing’s premier proving ground for top prospects on their journey to stardom. The concept of the show, spearheaded by ShoBox executive producer Gordon Hall, was to match unknown prospects in step-up fights in front of a national viewing audience, thereby offering these fighters the opportunity to showcase their talents while allowing the fans the opportunity to follow them throughout their careers.

The formula works – more than 75 ShoBox fighters have become world champions, many of whom got their big break on the The New Generation.

Unbeaten Worcester, MA, lightweight Jamaine Ortiz (14-0-1, 8 KOs) could be the next one on that list. Tomorrow night in Orlando, Ortiz makes his long-awaited ShoBox: The New Generation debut at the Caribe Royale in the 10-round main event against Philadelphia’s Nahir Albright (14-1, 7 KOs) for the vacant NABF 135-pound title. The telecast begins live at 9 pm ET.

“You’re not going to want to miss this fight,” Ortiz said. “It’s going to be a great fight. I can just guarantee that I’m going to come out on top and win. Everybody tune in.”

The stakes are incredibly for so many reasons; first, the opportunity to fight – and win – on ShoBox has proven beneficial for so many young fighters. Then there’s the allure of the NABF title, which, due to its affiliation with the WBC, grants the winner an automatic spot in the world rankings, a great way to fast-track one’s path to a shot at a world title.

A highly decorated amateur who competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials before making his professional debut in 2016, Ortiz understands pressure and has passed each test in his young career with flying colors. Under the guidance of promoter Jimmy Burchfield Sr. and CES Boxing, Ortiz has carefully climbed the ladder with each fight more important than the last. His timeline is unmatched:

May 13, 2016: Stopped Josh Parker at the 3:00 mark of the opening round in his professional debut
December 7, 2017: Capped a perfect 4-0 year with a unanimous decision win over 13-win veteran Derrick Murray
May 11, 2018: Stopped Philadelphia’s Tyrone Luckey in the third round of a scheduled six-round bout to improve to 9-0
February 23, 2019: In biggest win of his career, defeated previously unbeaten Ricardo Quiroz of California to capture the vacant WBC World Youth Lightweight Title
August 9, 2019: Succeeded in first defense of his WBC title, beating French challenger Romain Couture by unanimous decision
February 28, 2020: Headlined first fight in his hometown of Worcester with a first-round knockout win over 22-win veteran Luis Castillo
November 28, 2020: Became the first fighter to stop challenger Sulaiman Segawa, finishing his opponent in the seventh round of a scheduled eight-round bout on the undercard of the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones pay-per-view event in California
April 24, 2021: In his first appearance on ESPN, fought to a draw against fellow unbeaten lightweight Joseph Adorno, surviving two knockdowns to keep his unbeaten record intact

There’s little Ortiz has yet to accomplish, but winning tomorrow night and capturing the NABF title immediately puts the entire lightweight division on notice. Truth be told, it’s a great time to be an up-and-comer at 135 pounds, and Ortiz has made it clear his goal is to compete for one of the coveted world titles in his weight class before the end of 2022.

There isn’t one particular fighter on his radar, but Ortiz is familiar with all of them, whether it’s Devin Haney, Gervonta Davis, or George Kambosos, all of whom are thriving amidst this unparalleled lightweight renaissance. Kambosos recently won the WBA, IBF, and WBO lightweight titles from Teofimo Lopez, who many considered the top name at 135 pounds after he beat Vasyl Lomachenko in October of 2020.

What’s evident is there’s no clear-cut leader of the pack; the household names such as Haney, Davis, Lomachenko, Kambosos, and Joseph Diaz are all capable of taking home a title on any given night – and it wouldn’t be a shock if other up-and-comers like Rolly Romero or Isaac Cruz found their way into the conversation by the end of the year. The division hasn’t seen depth like this since the Julio Cesar Chavez-Edwin Rosario-Pernell Whitaker-Ray Mancini era during the mid-‘80s to early-‘90s.

Like many young fighters, Ortiz is learning the ropes in and out of the ring. Six years into his career, he has a better understanding of the business side of the sport, which can often be as grueling as the beatings accrued between the ropes. After spending many years as an apprentice carpenter, Ortiz is now dabbling in real estate, trying his hand at the stock market and cryptocurrency and investing in properties, surrounding himself with the right team to ensure his financial success long after he finishes boxing.

Those, however, are long-term investments. The short-term goal is to clean house among 135-pounders. Who would dare doubt him? Given his success at every step of the way, there’s no reason the soft-spoken, yet hard-hitting, lightweight can’t be the next up-and-comer to join the current fraternity of rising stars in his weight class. Tomorrow night’s main-event showdown will provide answers to a lot of questions and perhaps introduce a worldwide audience to boxing’s next great champion.

Visit CESFights.com for more information. Updates on CES Boxing can also be found on Facebook in addition to Instagram and Twitter by following @CESBoxing.

INFORMATION

CES Boxing is one of the top promotions in the northeast and one of the few to successfully promote both mixed martial arts and professional boxing. Launched in 1992 by longtime boxing judge Jimmy Burchfield Sr., the promotion is the only in professional boxing to boast two reigning WBC Youth world champions in lightweight Jamaine Ortiz and featherweight Irvin Gonzalez. CES Boxing recently teamed with UFC FIGHT PASS, the world’s No. 1 streaming platform for combat sports, to showcase its events to a worldwide audience, and worked as a promotional consultant for the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. pay-per-view event in November of 2020.

ShoBox: The New Generation is boxing’s premier proving ground for top prospects determined to fight for a world title, matching young talent competitively against their toughest opponents to date. More than 75 ShoBox fighters have become world champions.

Ideally located just minutes from Walt Disney World® Resort, Caribe Royale Orlando blends home-style comforts with unbeatable hotel amenities for the ultimate Orlando experience. Beautifully appointed, all-suite guest rooms are designed to offer a peaceful retreat for vacationers and business travelers alike. Spanning 60 acres and packed with wonderful amenities, Caribe Royale guests are treated to an array of leisure activities and family-friendly experiences. Guests can lounge by the pool; indulge in luxurious spa treatments; enjoy poolside libations and alfresco dining; reserve a bicycle and explore the area, and much more. Additionally, their expansive hotel features a variety of event facilities ideal for hosting conventions, meetings, social celebrations, and destination weddings.




AUDIO: Nahir Albright talks ShoBox fight with Jamaine Ortiz






VIDEO: Nahir Albright talks ShoBox fight with Jamaine Ortiz




UNDEFEATED LIGHTWEIGHT PROSPECT JAMAINE ORTIZ TAKES ON NAHIR ALBRIGHT ON NEXT EDITION OF SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION® FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18 LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

NEW YORK – January 18, 2022 – ShoBox: The New Generation returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Fla. for the second time in two months on Friday, February 18 for an exciting tripleheader featuring six prospects with a combined record of 74-2-2, five new to the developmental series. The action takes place live on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

The main event will see undefeated lightweight prospect Jamaine Ortiz (14-0-1, 8 KOs), who shared the ring with Jaron Ennis and Teofimo Lopez during a decorated amateur career, make his ShoBox debut against once-beaten Nahir Albright (14-1, 7 KOs) in a 10-round bout that could have long-term consequences for boxing’s hottest division. Albright is an aspiring R&B singer who belted out a tune during a post-fight interview following his last win. The co-feature matches ShoBox returnee Joe George (11-0, 7 KOs) facing Sean Hemphill (14-0, 8 KOs) in an eight-round super middleweight bout of unbeatens. The telecast opens with Philadelphia’s undefeated welterweight prospect Paul Kroll (9-0, 6 KOs) squaring off against perennial spoiler Marquis Taylor (12-1-1, 1 KOs) in an eight-round battle between ShoBox newcomers.

The three-fight telecast is promoted by King’s Promotions.

“This edition of ShoBox has compelling storylines and terrific matchups that make it a must-see for boxing fans,” said Gordon Hall, executive producer for ShoBox: The New Generation. “I’m particularly interested in finding out if Jamaine Ortiz or Nahir Albright can emerge as serious players at 135 pounds. Or if Joe George can follow up his sensational KO in his last outing against the gifted and elusive boxer-puncher Sean Hemphill. Or whether Paul Kroll can fulfill his vast potential against the talented Marquis Taylor. I can’t wait to see how it all plays out on February 18.”

Here is a closer look at the matchups:

Ortiz vs. Albright – 10-Round Lightweight Main Event Bout

Fighting out of Worcester, Mass., the 25-year-old Ortiz is a promising prospect in the loaded 135-pound division. Blessed with fast hands and an aggressive style, Ortiz delivered a career-best win over Sulaiman Segawa in November 2020 on the undercard of Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones, scoring a seventh-round KO to become the first fighter to stop Segawa. Known as “The Technician,” Ortiz, who sometimes fights out of the southpaw stance, is also the only fighter to beat current 11-1 lightweight Ricardo Quiroz. His last time out, Ortiz overcame two knockdowns to battle the undefeated Joseph Adorno to a majority draw in a thrilling eight-round affair in April. He recently spent five weeks in California helping pound-for-pound great Vasiliy Lomachenko prepare for his December fight with Richard Commey. Ortiz built his foundation in the amateurs, where he went 100-14 and sustained spirited losses to Ennis and Lopez. Ortiz is a former full-time union carpenter and college student who currently dabbles in real estate and has spoken of finishing college and perhaps attending medical school following his boxing career.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to be the main event on ShoBox,” said Ortiz. “I’ve been waiting for this a long time. I’m ready to put on a great performance. This is a great platform for future champions, and on February 18 I’m going to put the lightweight division on notice.”

Albright turned pro in 2016, dropping a majority decision in his debut against current 13-1 pro Anthony Laureano, before bouncing back to rattle off 14 straight wins. The streaking prospect has earned stoppages in five of his last six bouts which all took place in 2021, including his last time out when he dropped Michael Dutchover four times en route to a sixth-round stoppage victory. Albright will be making his ShoBox debut but has already beaten two fighters who have appeared on the developmental series in Dutchover and the 16-2 Jeremy Hill. The 25-year-old from Sicklerville, N.J. was originally scheduled to face Ortiz in November 2020 but was forced to withdraw with an injury.

“It’s a great feeling to headline on ShoBox,” said Albright. “The Hill fight was a step-up fight and I proved again that I belong. I will show again against Jamaine Ortiz that I am on my way to being a world champion. Ortiz is a sharp, fast and slick fighter. I’m sure he will give his all and it will be a good fight, but I will be victorious.”

George vs. Hemphill – Eight-Round Super Middleweight Bout

Managed by San Francisco 49ers All-Pro offensive lineman Trent Williams, George will return to the ring for the first time since scoring one of 2020’s most vicious KOs. The Houston native landed a stunning uppercut in the ninth round to immediately end his rematch with Marcos Escudero. George previously emerged victorious via a split decision victory in a battle of then unbeaten fighters when he first faced Escudero on SHOWTIME in November 2019. The 32-year-old George played basketball in college and didn’t start boxing until he was 19. He fought in the amateurs for five years, winning the 2015 National Golden Gloves and going 74-5 before making his pro debut in 2016. Campaigning primarily at light heavyweight, George will look to continue his success when he moves down to super middleweight on February 18.

“I am excited to be back on ShoBox,” said George. “I have won on this stage before and on February 18th, I will prove it again that I am one of the top super middleweights out there.”

Hemphill made his pro debut in 2019 and has already reeled off 14 consecutive wins without a blemish after a standout amateur period. He has fought six times since George last stepped in the ring, including once already in 2022. Hemphill scored an eight-round unanimous decision over Jeyson Minda in front of his hometown New Orleans fans on January 7. The 26-year-old known as “Silky” fought three times in 2021, scoring two TKOs. George will be the first undefeated opponent of Hemphill’s career with multiple victories. Hemphill is managed by Adam Glenn, son of the late Jimmy Glenn, who owned the beloved Jimmy’s Corner bar in Midtown Manhattan and was a well-known, iconic figure in boxing circles. Hemphill was a member of Team USA during a stellar amateur career (55-12) that saw him rise to become one of the top light heavyweights in the country.

“This is a great opportunity for me,” said Hemphill. “I have been looking for something like this to showcase my talent. I have been going through a lot in my personal life such as Hurricane Ida and I want to show people that I am fighting through it all. This is a good fight for me and it will show the world how great I am. This will take my career to the next level. I have been fighting on local shows and this is a big step up and a big stage for me to show I am part of the next generation.”

Kroll vs. Taylor – Eight-Round Welterweight Bout

Representing the fighting city of Philadelphia, Kroll is a four-year pro who already owns impressive wins over the highly regarded ShoBox alum Shinard Bunch and previously undefeated Philadelphian southpaw Mark Dawson. He also owns a 10-round victory over Lucas Santamaria in perhaps the toughest test of his career. Kroll overcame a knockdown in the second round to recover and earn the unanimous decision. A highly-touted amateur with a record of 123-17, Kroll won the U.S. Olympic Boxing Trials in 2015 and has sparred with the likes of standouts Julian Williams, Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia.

“This is a great opportunity for me to get back on television against a good opponent,” said Kroll. “I am looking forward to a big win. I’ll take a unanimous decision, but I definitely want the knockout that will make a statement. I have seen a couple clips of Taylor and I see that he’s a good fighter, but I know he can’t beat me. He’s tall and had a draw with Lucas Santamaria. I’m really excited to be on ShoBox and I’m going to perform and put on a show for everybody.”

The 28-year-old Taylor is a nine-year veteran who owns wins over three then-undefeated fighters including Jimmy Williams (14-0-1) and Sanjarbek Rakhmanov (10-0-1), who have both appeared on ShoBox, and Oscar Torres (8-0). The 6-foot-1 Taylor suffered his only career loss to current 21-2 contender Ladarius Miller. Following that loss, Taylor won five consecutive fights before taking on two-time welterweight world champion Kermit Cintron. That fight was ruled a no contest after Cintron was cut from an accidental headbutt. Taylor has one opponent in common with Kroll, Lucas Santamaria, who Taylor fought to a majority draw in June 2019. His last time out, Taylor traveled to Colombia where he earned a third-round KO over Esteban Alseco. Taylor refined his tools in the amateurs, where he went 130-20.

“I appreciate the opportunity and I have been trying to get on ShoBox for years,” said Taylor. “I have a lot of appreciation and gratitude, and I still can’t believe it’s finally happening. I am just anxious to get in the ring now. I know Kroll is a good boxer and an undefeated fighter. This will be my fifth undefeated opponent. I have the tendency to have fighters fight my fight. I am super motivated for this and I’m coming to win in spectacular fashion. I am always the underdog and stealing fights is my thing.”

Hall of Famer Barry Tompkins calls the action from ringside with veteran combat sports reporter Brian Campbell and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts, and Hall of Famer Steve Farhood remotely performing unofficial scoring duties.

The executive producer of ShoBox: The New Generation is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

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For more information visit www.sho.com/sports follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, #ShoBox, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports

About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 86 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Errol Spence Jr., Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.




Unbeaten Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz A visionary in trunks and gloves People’s champ of Worcester

WORCESTER, Mass. (June 10, 2021) – Unbeaten lightweight prospect Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz (14-0-1, 8 KOs) is a visionary, clearly seeing the day he becomes the first Worcester (MA) native to become a World boxing champion, as well as headlining a show at home in front of thousands of his growing legend of fans, and much more.

The 25-year-old Ortiz, former World Boxing Council (WBC) World Youth lightweight, has his sights set on greatness and the boxing world got a glimpse of his vast talent in his last two fights, both showcased on high-profile cards.

His seventh-round stoppage of Sulaiman Segawa (13-3-1, 4 KOs), who had never been previously stopped, last November on the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones, Jr. pay-per-event was the first time for most boxing fans outside of New England to watch him in action.

He followed that performance with an even better one last month on ESPN+, despite settling for a questionable 8-round draw against undefeated Joseph “Blessed Hands” Adorno (14-0-2, 12 KOs), in which most observers felt Ortiz deserved a victory.

“I’ve seen a statue of myself in the City of Worcester…..like Rocky in Philadelphia,” Ortiz said, “but not only for what I do in the ring. I am part of this city. I’m the People’s Champ! I’m willing to do whatever it takes to become world champion. I’ve headlined a show in Worcester, but I want to do it on a big card with thousands of fans there supporting me.”

“I joke around a lot when he talks, but I support any kid who has a dream like Jamaine,” Ortiz’ trainer Rocky Gonzalez remarked. “That’s the way all of us were taught at the Worcester Boys & Girls Club by Carlos Garcia. We believe in ourselves and I’m totally with it. Anything positive, just keep it positive.

“I think Jamaine feels the way he does about Worcester is because it’s personal with him. He was born in there. He’s always so positive at the gym with the kids. When you’re the best in the gym, everybody looks up to you, and that’s the way it is here with Jamaine. It’s important that the you
ng kids are positive, and it is that way in our gym. A lot of that is because of Jamaine.”
DCU Center and the new Polar Park are the only venues in Worcester (located 40 miles west of Boston) capable of holding 5,000 fans or more for boxing.

“Jamaine Ortiz to Worcester,” added promoter Jimmy Burchfield (CES president), “is like Micky Ward to Lowell (MA), Vinny Paz to Providence (RI), and John Ruiz to Chelsea (MA). We’re working every day for Jamaine, as we do for all of our fighters, and get ready for some big news!”

“I’ve headlined before, at the Palladium, but fighting at home in front of 5,000 or more fans on television would be great,” reigning WBC United States Silver lightweight
champion Ortiz concluded. “That’s something I expect as the People’s Champion. I’ve put in the work and built a growing fanbase, which will translate into future ticket sales. I think it may take me fighting on TV in Las Vegas or Madison Square Garden for casual fight fans in Worcester to get onboard.”

“Very progressive and brilliant Worcester city officials recognize the importance of bringing high end sporting events to the area and have great plans for the sporting community in the near future,” Ortiz’ manager Dick Shappy noted. “The recent purchase of the Pawtucket Red Sox, the Boston Red Sox AAA minor league affiliate, is a testament to that. The timing is perfect right now for Jamaine as he positions himself to become Worcester’s favorite son and world champion. Boxing fans, stay tuned!

Worcester is ready to celebrate its favorite son. The Day of “The Technician” is coming!




Team Ortiz moves on from disputed draw feeling confident undefeated lightweight Jamaine Ortiz made loud statement

WORCESTER, Mass. (April 29, 2021) – Despite a disputed draw with unbeaten Joseph “Blessed Hands” Adorno (14-0-2, 12 KOs) last Saturday night in Kissimmee, Florida, lightweight prospect Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz (14-0-1, 8 KOs) displayed his vast skills and courage on ESPN+.

Recovering from two knockdowns (the first from an illegal punch behind the head) and still taking the fight to the promoter’s fighter, Ortiz won six of the eight rounds but, unfortunately, he had to settled for an 8-round majority draw with (76-74, 75-75-75) Adorno.

Ortiz, fighting out of Worcester, Massachusetts, is the reigning WBC USNBC (U.S.) Silver lightweight champion, as well as a former WBC World Youth lightweight titlist.

“I didn’t fight my fight,” Ortiz evaluated his performance. “I fought too much instead of being ‘The Technician.’ Before the fight, I thought I was the B-side fighter and wanted to please the crowd. I didn’t realize that I was on the A-side (thanks to his promoter, Jimmy Burchfield) and the betting favorite. I was fighting a Top Rank guy and felt that I had to bring the fight to him. Muscle memory, I guess, from back in the amateurs. I was fighting on his stage, so I put pressure on him. If the fight went the distance, I wanted to make sure the scoring was clear and obvious. I knew I’d break him down because I had better stamina and skills.

“I fought him too much, but I still thought I won the fight. The 76-74 score made sense. I won every round but the second and seventh (rounds of knockdowns). I didn’t agree with the one judge who had him (Adorno) winning the sixth. He hit me behind the head in the third round and I was off balance. But the referee does his job and mine is to fight. Nothing I could do about it. The plan was to box him, going to the body, but not switch stances because it would expose me. I had to go to the body, always part of my plan, but I wasn’t ‘The Technician.’ Sometimes I switch stances without realizing it. I got clipped in the seventh round (uppercut that resulted in a standing 8 count) when I was switching for first time. I handled it like a pro. I got up and felt good. I survived the round by holding a few times and then I came back again.”

Burchfield, head of Classic Sports and Entertainment (CEO), knows Ortiz showed that he’s somebody lightweights will have to reckon with in the immediate future.

“Jamaine’s stock went up for the second fight in a row (last November he registered a sensational stoppage of Sulaiman Segawa (13-3-1, 4 KOs), who had never been previously stopped, in seventh-round on the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones, Jr. pay-per-event),” Burchfield added. “Adorno is an animal when he’s in control of a fight. Jamaine had to take control of the fight by being the aggressor but, as ‘The Technician, knowing when to fight and when to box. The punch in the second round was, definitely, behind the head, clearly a foul, and it was more of a slip than a knockdown because he was off balance. If that punch was disallowed, Jamaine wins the fight, even if he had lost the round. He (Emil Lombardi) is a quality ref who made a mistake. Maybe he didn’t catch it because of the angle he had, which is why I’m a firm believer in instant replay, and It would have been ruled a non-knockdown.

“Going into the seventh, I thought Jamaine led by 2-3 points having taken five of the previous six rounds. Jamaine showed the world his endurance when he came back so strong in the eighth round. If the fight had been 10-round, or even 30-sconds longer, no disrespect to Adorno, Jamaine would have knocked him out. Jamaine is the real deal. He certainly proved he’s TV friendly after his last two fights and he deserves to be mentioned among the top 135-pounders in the world. Any takers?”

Ortiz’ manager, Dick Shappy, had mixed emotions after the fight, understanding that Ortiz raised the bar, even though he fought to a draw.

“I wish he had won,” Shappy remarked, “but a draw wasn’t too bad under the circumstances. I though Jamaine won the fight outright. If not for that illegal punch in the second, he won the fight on their scorecards. It still shouldn’t have been ruled a knockdown, more of a slip, because he was going forward and lost balance. It never should have been 10-8. Adorno would have lost if they had to go into the championship rounds. Jamaine was more skilled, he did a good job.”

Count no less than former Olympic gold medalist and 2-division World Champion Andre Ward, who served as color commentator for Ortiz-Adorno, among those impressed by Ortiz.

“Ortiz outworked Adorno, no doubt, and he never backed down,” Ward commented on air. “I want to see more of Ortiz!’

As entertaining as Ortiz-Adorno was – it may have stolen the entire show – it’s unlikely that there will be a rematch.

“I don’t think he wants to fight me again,” Ortiz reported. “He said something about maybe when we both have world title belts.”

Ortiz has taken advantage of the tremendous opportunities for worldwide exposure in his last two fights. His reward will certainly come, in time, moving up the ratings as people continue jumping on “The Technician” bandwagon.




Undefeated Joseph and Jeremy Adorno in Action Against Undefeated opponents, Tomorrow Night in Kissimmee, Florida

NEW YORK (April 23, 2021)- Undefeated brothers, Joseph and Jeremy Adorno of Split-T Management, will be back in action against undefeated foes at the Silver Spurs Arena tomorrow night in Kissimmee, Florida.

The two fights will be streamed live on ESPN+ beginning at 6 PM ET

Joseph (14-0-1, 12 KOs) takes on fellow undefeated Jamaine Ortiz in a eight-round lightweight bout.

Jeremy (4-0, 1 KO) fights fellow another undefeated foe in Ramiro Martinez in a four-round super bantamweight tilt.

Joseph of Allentown, Pa. will be back in the ring for the first time since his draw with Hector Garcia on January 11, 2020.

The 22 year-old Adorno has a wins over Marco Antonio Ocano (1-0), Kevin Cruz (8-0) and Damian Alejandro Sosa (9-2).

Ortiz of Worcester, Mass. is 14-0 with eight knockouts.

The 24 year-old Ortiz has wins over Clinton Miller (2-0), Glenn Mitchell (2-0), Derrick Murray (13-3-1), Ricardo Quiroz (10-0), Romain Couture (8-1-1), Luis Castillo (22-5) and his last bout when he stopped Sulaiman Segawa (13-2-1) on November 28th in Los Angeles.

Jeremy Adorno, 20 of Allentown, Pennsylvania is coming off a four-round unanimous decision over Fernando Ibarra on January 11, 2020 in Atlantic City.

Martinez of Hurst, Texas is 2-0-2 with one knockout, and will be facing his fourth consecutive undefeated opponent.

The 22 year-old is 1-0-2 against those undefeated opponents, with his victory in his last bout over Tevin Moore (1-0) on November 20th in Irving, Texas.

Joseph and Jeremy Adorno are promoted by Top Rank




AUDIO: Joseph Adorno Media Conference before fight with Jamaine Ortiz






VIDEO: Joseph Adorno Media Conference before fight with Jamaine Ortiz




“It’s my time!”: Focused Ortiz ready to reintroduce himself Saturday night

Orlando, FL (April 20, 2021) – In 2003, Jose Antonio Rivera flew more than 3,000 miles from his backyard in Worcester, MA, to the middle of Berlin and won a narrow majority decision over unbeaten hometown fighter Michael Trabant to capture the vacant WBA world welterweight title, a rare – but not impossible – feat amidst the duplicity and deceit that often overshadows boxing.

Worcester is affectionately known as the “Heart of the Commonwealth,” an industrial city that earned its reputation at the turn of the century through long hours of physical, backbreaking labor by those who worked textile mills and factories, so it’s no surprise Worcester fighters do their best when forced to dig deep and grind when it matters most.

Worcester’s Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz (14-0, 8 KOs) – the brightest among a city filled with great up-and-coming talent – hopes to carry the torch Saturday, April 24 when he makes his long-awaited network television debut in an eight-round fight against fellow unbeaten lightweight Joseph Adorno (14-0-1, 12 KOs), streaming live on ESPN+ beginning at 6 pm ET from the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, FL.

Facing the greatest challenge of his pro career, the 24-year-old Ortiz must channel the soul of 19th century Worcester and deliver the type of performance one would expect from a hard-working father and union carpenter accustomed to putting his hands to use both in and out of the ring.

“I’m built for this,” Ortiz said. “Whether I have to fight on the road, or travel to fight in someone’s backyard, it’s a risk, but I’m not concerned about that. I’m just going to be the best I can be and never run away from any challenges.”

The card, promoted by Top Rank, features a handful of exciting bouts, including WBO World featherweight champion Emanuel Navarette (32-1, 24 KOs) defending his title against challenger Christopher Diaz (26-2, 16 KOs) and a 10-round super lightweight showdown between Josue “The Prodigy” Vargas (18-1, 9 KOs) and Willie Shaw (13-2, 9 KOs). The main card airs live on at 10 pm ET on ESPN.

To watch Ortiz-Adorno live, sign up for ESPN+ for $5.99 a month or $59.99 for an entire year at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com, or via the ESPN app for mobile and connected devises. ESPN+ is also available as part of The Disney Bundle, which also includes Disney+ and Hulu. Subscriptions range from $12.99 to $18.99 per month.

Why this fight – and why now – just six months after his scintillating knockout win over Sulamain Segawa in California on the undercard of the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. fight?

“My time is now,” Ortiz said.

The reigning WBC Youth and USNBC Silver champion turns 25 later this month. He’s in the fifth year of his professional career. Everything is lined up the way he wants it as he begins what he considers a make-or-break 2021.

Ortiz isn’t like those fighters who only talk the talk when it comes to dreaming of championship glory. Since his days as an amateur, trained by the great Carlos Garcia, traveling the world to fight the best in his weight class, Ortiz envisioned everything he’s experiencing now. When he talks about each step leading to something greater, each move as a building block for the future, his words carry weight – he knew at 18 what he’d experience at 21 and beyond.

Just days after his win over Segawa – a fight viewed by an estimated 1.6 million who purchased the card on pay per view – Ortiz achieved instant celebrity status in the boxing world; his followers on social media nearly tripled and his inbox flooded with hundreds of unsolicited messages, all clamoring to find out more about this soft-spoken “technician” from Worcester.

“My vision is just so far ahead, and I’m so far ahead of myself sometimes that none of it was surprising to me,” Ortiz said. “I’ve manifested all of this, day by day, fight by fight. I literally said before I signed my first professional contract that it would happen just like this. I’m just glad it’s finally coming to fruition.”

While some fighters speak with a level of confidence that borders on arrogance, Ortiz’s self-assurance veers in the opposite direction; there’s humility and gratitude in every word, enough to convince you Ortiz is not only two, three, or four, but rather several steps ahead of the competition. He genuinely believes the best is yet to come, not because he expects it to be handed to him, but because he’s worked for every inch and every advantage.

When talking about the opportunity ahead of him this weekend, Ortiz chuckles. He knows what’s at stake. Not everyone gets the chance to fight on this stage, even those with more accomplished amateur backgrounds, or lucrative financial backers. Ortiz earned it the hard way, and there’s zero chance he’s letting it slip through his grasp without leaving it all in the ring on Saturday night.

“I watched a video recently about how not everyone gets that turn in life, and how you have to take advantage of it. That really hit me,” Ortiz said. “This is my turn, and not everybody gets it, so you’ve got to make the most of it. I’m chasing a legacy, in a sense – a story. My story hasn’t been a cakewalk. I’m willing to face whoever I have to face to get to where I want to be.”

In boxing, where the athletes’ shelf lives are much shorter than in other sports, fights like this take on an understandable heightened sense of importance. Ortiz knows this. The plan he’s envisioned – the road he’s mapped out since Day 1 – also includes life after boxing, one in which a lengthy reign of dominance and potential earnings will make every current-day sacrifice worth the struggle. The “technician” who burst into living rooms across the world in November is poised to make an even greater impact Saturday against the dangerous Adorno, who, like Ortiz, built his foundation in the amateurs.

Worcester, no matter the generation, will always be the “Heart of the Commonwealth,” and its fighters don’t back down from a challenge, regardless of where their journey takes them. Ortiz has history – and an entire city – on his side this weekend.

“Boxing is time-limited. You can’t box your entire life,” Ortiz said. “You hit your prime and you have a couple of great years ahead of you, then you start to wind down. I hope to make a couple of bucks and make all of those beginning sacrifices worth it. I’m in this now 100 percent. It’s my time, and time is limited, so I have to get in early, chase those titles, and take over for as long as I can.”

Visit CESFights.com for more information, or follow CES Boxing on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter at @CESBOXING.

INFORMATION

CES Boxing is one of the top promotions in the northeast and one of the few to successfully promote both mixed martial arts and professional boxing. Launched in 1992 by longtime boxing judge Jimmy Burchfield Sr., the promotion is the only in professional boxing to boast two reigning WBC Youth world champions in lightweight Jamaine Ortiz and featherweight Irvin Gonzalez. CES Boxing recently teamed with UFC Fight Pass, the world’s No. 1 streaming platform for combat sports, to showcase its events to a worldwide audience.




Undefeated lightweight Jamaine Ortiz Takes on unbeaten Joseph Adorno “The Technician” vs. “Blessed Hands”

WORCESTER, Mass. (April 19, 2021) – Rarely do undefeated prospects with double-digit victories fight each other because of the perceived risk like lightweights Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz (14-0, 8 KOs) and Joseph “Blessed Hands” Adorno (14-0-1, 12 KOs) will do this Saturday night, April 24th, at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Florida.

The 8-round Adorno vs. Ortiz fight, streaming live on ESPN+, will be on the Top Rank card headlined (on ESPN) by WBO World featherweight champion Emanuel Navarette (32-1, 24 KOs) defending his title against challenger Christopher Diaz (26-2, 16 KOs).
Both young lightweights were decorated USA amateur boxers who are rising stars in arguably boxing’s most loaded division.

“I’m counting the days,” Ortiz said about his fight with Adorno. “I’ve trained hard my whole life. When an opportunity like this comes, I’m ready to prove myself. I think I’ll have a spectacular performance and impress the crowd like I usually do. I’m fighting on another big card; I’m going up not down.”

The reigning WBC USNBC (U.S.) Silver lightweight champion, in addition to being a former WBC World Youth lightweight titlist, the 24-year-old Ortiz recently cracked the top 40 in the WBC ratings at 31, and he’s also ranked No. 5 by the NABF.

Ortiz is coming off a sensational, high-profile knockout of Sulaiman Segawa (13-3-1, 4 KOs), who had never been stopped, in the seventh round last November on the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones, Jr. pay-per-view event.

The lone blemish on the 21-year-old Adorno’s pro record came in his last fight, back on January 11, 2020, when he fought an 8-round split draw with Hector Garcia (14-7-3). Born in New Jersey and raised in Puerto Rico, Adorno lives and trains in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Ortiz surprisingly may have what amounts to a “hometown” advantage, at least in terms of vocal support, largely because many of his New England friends and family are flying down to Florida to attend the fight, along with his Florida fans.
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“My father lived in Florida and I visited him during summers, and I went to second grade there,” Ortiz explained. “I have a big family-base in Orlando. A lot of family and friends from Worcester are going to the fight. I’m surprised by how many people will be there for me.”

Ortiz is promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports (CES), which will co-promote Adorno vs. Ortiz with Top Rank, and managed by Dick Shappy.
“Both teams need to be complimented for taking a fight like this.” Burchfield commented. “Two undefeated, young boxers like this fighting each other is what real boxing is all about. Bob Arum, Carl Moretti and Team Top Rank have been friends of mine for so many years.

“We turned Jamaine pro and through all these years as a promoter (32nd), maybe, every decade or so you have a special one like Jamaine, who can become the future of boxing. When you find a fighter who can box, punch and set-up his punches very well, he’s special and I feel Jamaine is special like that, not only in the ring but outside as well. I don’t worry about getting a late-night call about him. He is a total professional, no distractions with him. Jamaine works as a carpenter, he’s learning the real estate business, and he’s also looking into the medical field in the future. He reminds me of Sugar Ray Leonard and Oscar De Lay Hoya. He has that charisma and is a technician in the ring. A very smart kid in the ring. He has a spectacular team of managers and trainer to work with, too.”

“For many years,” Shappy added, “our management team (including Eddie Imondi) had been searching for the right boxer to come along that had the potential to be a world champ. We are very confident that we have found that person, Jamaine ‘The Technician’ Ortiz.”

Rare as it may be in boxing, the reward is ultimately worth the risk for these legitimate fighters, Ortiz and Adormo.




Undefeated lightweight prospect Jamaine “The Techncian” Ortiz Breaks down today’s elite lightweights

WORCESTER, Mass. (March 8, 2021) – Undefeated lightweight prospect Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz (14-0, 8 KOs) has started to make waves in arguably boxing’s best and deepest division.

The Worcester, Massachusetts fighter is ranked No. 5 by the North American Boxing Federation (NABF), No. 14 by the United States Boxing Association (USBA) and North American Boxing Association (NABA), and he recently cracked the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) top 40 world rankings at 31.

“The lightweight division is the one everybody wants to watch,” Ortiz said. “They want to see the best fighters and in the lightweight division it doesn’t just mean No. 1 versus No. 2. Any of the top lightweights fighting each other is what fans want to see the most. This is the best division right now and it should remain this way for a while because so many of the top fighters are young.”

The 24-year-old Ortiz, the reigning WBC USNBC (U.S.) Silver lightweight champion, in addition to being a former WBC World Youth lightweight titlist, recently evaluated the elite lightweights in the world today.

Teofimo “The Takeover” Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs), reigning IBF, WBA, WBO and WBC Franchise world champion). Ortiz lost to Lopez in the final of the 2015 National Golden Gloves Championships on points, 3-0. “He’s got all the belts and has to be No. 1. He’s The Champ! Confident and explosive.”

Vasily “Loma” Lomachenko (14-2, 10 KOs), former 5-time, 3-division world champion. “He’s good but too small at 135 pounds. I like his style.”

Ryan “KingRy” Garcia (21-0, 18 KOs), reigning WBC Interim world champion. “He’s showing a lot of development.”

Devin “The Dream” Haney (25-0, 15 KOs), reigning WBC world champion) “Looks like he has the goods, but he hasn’t fought anybody. He definitely has the goods, so I can’t put him at the top yet, and he isn’t the real WBC champion (Lopez is.).”

Richard “RC” Commey (30-3, 25 KOs), former IBF world lightweight champion. “Tough! Definitely a tough fighter who is very strong.”

Luke Campbell
(20-4, 16 KOs): “I’ve only watched two of his fights. He’s a former (UK) Olympian with good amateur pedigree, but he’s 33 and that’s old for this weight class.”

Javier “El Abejon” Fortuna (36-2-1, 25 KOs), former WBA super featherweight world champion. “I sparred with him. He’s a top contender who was world champion.”

Jorge “El Nino de oro Golden Boy” Linares (47-5, 29 KOs), former 4-time, 3 division world champion. “I like him. He’s pretty sharp, but old guys like him (35) don’t have a chance in this division.”

George “Ferocious” Kambosos, Jr. (19-0, 10 KOs), “He was my old high school teacher’s nephew. He’s from Australia and I know he sparred Manny Pacquiao. Fast and seems explosive, but at the end of the day, in the ring, it comes down to outsmarting your opponent.”

Lopez (23), Garcia (22), Haney (22) and Ortiz (24) are 24 or younger, as well as the only U.S.- natives in this group; Lomachenko (33), Commey (33), Campbell (33), Fortuna (31) and Linares (35) are all in their thirties.

“I think I’ll be fighting for a world title by the end of next year,” Ortiz added. “I want to fight whoever has the belts. Some of these guys may move up in weight, the older guys may not be contenders next year.

“Lopez has stood out and he’s still young. He’s earned his way to the top with his fight credentials. He’s young and doing a fantastic job knocking guys out in entertaining fashion.”

Team Ortiz is expected to soon make a big, exciting announcement about his next fight, which promises to be a major step up in terms of quality of opponent and interest, as well as provide added exposure on a national platform.




Undefeated lightweight prospect Jamaine Ortiz “The Technician” in and out of the ring

WORCESTER, Mass. (February 15, 2021) – Undefeated lightweight prospect Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz (14-0, 8 KOs) truly lives up to his nickname in and out of the ring as a skilled boxer, union carpenter, and much more.

Fighting out of Worcester, Massachusetts, the poised beyond his years Ortiz is making waves in the loaded lightweight division, especially after his scintillating 8th round knockout of Sulaiman Segawa (13-3-1, 4 KOs), who had never been stopped, last November on the Tyson-Jones, Jr. PPV card for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) USNBC (U.S) Silver lightweight title.

Ortiz, who is a former WBC Youth World lightweight titlist, has moved up in ratings to No. 5 by the North American Boxing Federation (NABF), as well as No. 31 in the WBC world lightweight rankings.

Ortiz’ apt nickname, “The Technician”, came out of a conversation between Jamaine and a good friend from Worcester, retired 2-division world champion Jose Antonio Rivera, a few years ago when they were training with their strength-and-conditioning coach in Boston.

“Right away,” Ortiz said, “I thought it made sense. People were telling me I needed a nickname like all boxers and ‘The Technician” fits my style. Right away, I knew it would be my nickname, because a technician cares about his craft like I do in and out of the ring. I’m very technical in everything I do.”

In 2015, Ortiz because a New England-based union carpenter, although he hasn’t been working often lately due to his rising boxing career. Ortiz noted his work as a carpenter helped his conditioning for boxing by using his muscles to carry tools and wood.

“Being a technician is second nature to me,” Ortiz explained. “I need to cut on the line in finished carpentry. Even if it’s only one-eighth of an inch off, it’s a big deal, and the same in boxing. I need to be at the right distance from my opponent and it has to be fluid: timing, distance and measurement. ‘The Technician’ is self-explanatory. It is who I am – very skilled in my craft! And boxing is the Sweet science.”

Ortiz, however, isn’t your typical boxer. He is focused on his boxing career, but he has other interests as well. In the past, he talked about going to medical school to become a doctor or medical researcher, but his construction work as a carpenter led him to real estate, and now he’s into finance.

“As a kid I was always involved in being everything and anything I could,” Ortiz remarked. “I have settled on what I’m really good at right now and that’s in the ring. Boxing is No. 1! In the future, after boxing, I may go to medical school, but I’ve ben spending a lot of time trading and investing. When I retire from boxing, I may get a license to be a financial advisor and start ‘The Technician Brokerage’ to help athletes invest in the market so they have money after they retire from their sport.

“I have a mentor who I’ve learned from in real estate. I bought a three-decker (house) a few years ago as an investment and I’ve done well. I’ve learned that cash flow is most important, making money while I sleep, as they say. I’m just doing what comes naturally.”

“Jamaine is in the gym and still training hard to keep fit for his next fight,” Ortiz co-manager Dick Shappy added. “So far, he seems to be weathering the storm. He is anxious to get out there and show the world that he is the real deal and given the opportunity, he will prove that he is a force to be reckoned with boxing’s best at the highest levels.”

Jamaine Ortiz is “The Technician” with tremendous upside in the ring and business. And remember, he’s only 24 years old, yet he’s still learning every day about boxing and life to prepare for his future.




Undefeated Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz Made his bones in the amateur ranks vs.Edgar Berlanga, Teofimo Lopez and Jaron Ennis

WORCESTER, Mass. (January 25, 2021) – Success in amateur boxing doesn’t necessarily insure a great professional career. Some fighters are much more suited to be better pros than amateurs, most often power punchers, but it’s usually clear early on if a fighter is especially skilled or not.

Undefeated lightweight prospect Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz (14-0, 8 KOs), fighting out of Worcester, MA, displayed his tremendous gifts in the amateurs against some of today’s most talented, young boxers.

Back in 2012, for example, 14-year-old, 106-pound Ortiz defeated the hottest pro prospect in the world today, 16-0(16 KOs) Edgar Berlanga, of Brooklyn, at the Junior Olympics National Championships held in Lake Placid, New York. Ortiz went on to win 100 of 114 amateur matches, Berlanga finished with a 162-17 amateur record. All 16 of the latter’s pro fights ended in the opening round.

Ortiz never dreamed that Berlanga would become the super middleweight monster that he is today for a good reason. “I didn’t have pros on my mind,” Ortiz remembered. “My goal was to win an Olympic gold medal. I didn’t see him at the U.S. Olympic Trials, but I did at a few national tournaments.”

Another Brooklyn-born fighter, unified world lightweight champion Teofimo “The Takeover” Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs), the 2020 Fighter of the Year, handed Ortiz a 3-0 loss on points at the 2015 National Golden Gloves Championship.

“If I had my coach in the corner – Rocky Gonzalez had to leave because of a pro commitment – I think I would have been able to beat him. He’s a power puncher now, but not when I fought him. I hope to fight him sometime because he holds the belts. I want to fight the top dogs.”

In Ortiz’ final amateur fight, he won a 2-1 decision against Abraham “El Super” Nova (19-0, 14 KOs), the former NABF super featherweight champion in the pro ranks, to be crowned New England Golden Gloves champion

“We’ve sparred after that,” Ortiz noted. “We go to his trainer’s (Hector Bermudez) gym in Boston a lot to get good work.”

Two other undefeated contemporary pros who were also standout pro prospects that Ortiz defeated in the amateurs are former NABF super lightweight Luis Feliciano (14-0, 8 KOs) and yet another Brooklyn native, super lightweight Richardson Hitchins (12-0, 5 KOs). Against Feliciano, Ortiz won 3-0 at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials, and he edged Hitchins, 2-1, at the Olympic Qualifier.

“The Feliciano fight was fairly easy for me,” Ortiz noted. “I’m not surprised by his success as a pro because he was a recognized amateur on Team USA. The Hitchins fight was competitive and he probably thought he won.”

Two losses in the amateurs against undefeated rising pro stars, welterweight Jaron “Boots” Ennis (26-0, 24 KOs) and bantamweight Gary Antuanne Russell (18-0, 12 KOs), only enhanced Ortiz’ potential as a prizefighter. Both fights were scored 3-0 for Ennis in the Olympic Qualifier and Russell in the semifinals of the Olympic Trials.

“I fought Ennis in his hometown, Philadelphia, and he beat me,” Ortiz commented. “He turned pro and started knocking out everybody. He didn’t stop me, though. I haven’t seen Russell fight in the pros.”

Ortiz is promoted by Classic Entertainment and Sports (CES). “I’ve been in this business a long time and affiliated with thousands of athletes,” CES founder/CEO Jimmy Burchfield, Sr. commented. “Jamaine has it all! He’s a perfect gentleman who has all types of experience against practically every type of boxer. Anybody who truly understands boxing can tell the difference about the special ones. He reminds me a little of Sugar Ray Leonard and looks like Oscar de la Hoya. He is the whole package with everything needed to be world champion.

“I love working with his team, Rocky Gonzalez and Carlos Garcia. They’ve all bonded. Team Ortiz is great to work with and I believe Jamaine has an unbelievable career ahead of him. Athletes of the 21st Century need more than in the past like a strength and conditioning coach and nutritionist. We have that for Jermaine.

Ortiz understands that there’s a world of difference between the amateurs and pros. “Styles make fights and pro versus amateur boxing is different,” he remarked. “We didn’t wear headgear in the Olympic Trials, but nobody stopped me. It seems like a lot of those guys I fought in the amateurs gained power in the pros and aren’t fighting as lightweights anymore (other than Lopez).”

The 24-year-old Ortiz is the reigning World Boxing Council World Youth and USNBC (U.S.) Silver lightweight champion. His stocked has skyrocketed since his spectacular performance this past November on the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones, Jr. PPV, in which Ortiz stopped Sulaiman Segawa (13-2-1, 4 KOs) in the seventh round of their high-profile fight.
“I’m back in the gym staying sharp and in shape,” Ortiz concluded, “working hard for whatever comes.”

Burchfield added, “Since his great performance on the Tyson-Jones PPV, we have been receiving all kinds of good offers for him. Jamaine Ortiz is a future boxing star.”

Ortiz’ special gifts were developed in the amateurs fighting opponents such as Lopez, Berlanga, Ennis and Co. Now, he’s making waves in the pro ranks, ranked No. 5 by the North American Boxing Federation (NABF), and cracking the WBC world lightweight ratings at No. 28.




Undefeated lightweight prospect Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz No longer best kept secret afterTyson-Jones, Jr. PPV show performance

WORCESTER, Mass. (December 14, 2020) – Prior to his sensational performance on the recent Mike Tyson-Roy Jones, Jr. pay-per-view event, undefeated lightweight prospect Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz was boxing’s best kept secret. No more, though, as Ortiz firmly established himself as a rising star in front of countless fans among the 1.6 million PPV buys.

Ortiz flew from Boston to Los Angeles on Thanksgiving. He was driven to his hotel, where he immediately saw Jones, checked his weight, and walked to Staples Center. “I was comfortable from the start,” said the young fighter who was fighting for the first time as a professional outside of New England. “I was there to get the job done. I was on a mission. I walk to see the Staples Center and that was cool. I later took my run around the Staples Center and there were a lot of statues. It was beautiful. It was cool seeing the Lakers locker-room.”

The 24-year-old Ortiz (14-0, 8 KOs), the reigning World Boxing Youth World champion, knocked out Sulaiman Segawa (13-3-1, 4 KOs) with a bruising body attack, hurting his opponent in the sixth round, and closing the show in spectacular fashion in the seventh for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) USNBC (U.S) Silver lightweight title. Segawa had never been stopped before as a professional.

Ortiz displayed his overall arsenal: stiff jab, lightning quick hands and feet, switching back and forth effortlessly from orthodox to southpaw stances, punishing hooks up and down, and the most lethal body shots seen from a New Englander since “Irish” Micky Ward.

“I was calm and cool before the fight,” Ortiz added. “I like to go into a fight, mentally, like it was a sparring session and I always do good. I started out in an orthodox stance, established my jab and used it a lot. I think I should have used it more and could have beaten him with it. I listened to my coach (Rocky Gonzalez) and he told me when to switch. Body punching is the No. 1 thing with Rocky. I may not have shown it nearly as much in other fights, but he drills that into me all the time. In the sixth round, he told me to go more to the body, not looking to catch him, and in the seventh I really hurt him to the body.

“Segawa was definitely tough. He had beaten a lot of guys, including a few he upset. Every fight is a stepping-stone and I’m my worst critic. I felt that I could have knocked him out in the second round, but I didn’t want to go off the game plan.”

Ortiz set-up Segawa from the opening bell, broke him down, and finished the show in grand style as Seqawa was hurt and trapped on the ropes, drawing kudos from highly respected people in the industry such as “Sugar” Ray Leonard, Teddy Atlas, and others. Ortiz’ fan-base grew exponentially as boxing fans rushed to sign up to follow Jamaine during and after his breakout fight.

“Once people saw me perform and my style,” Ortiz continued, “they liked me. I could have shown more and thrown more combinations. I really needed to fight in front of the world. I got 5,500 new Instagram flowers that night. I guess, I’m no longer the best kept secret in boxing.”

“Our main goal is to win a world title,” Gonzalez commented. “This was fun and a great opportunity, but the motivation to be world champion is stronger. He dealt with this fight as just another fight, and he followed our game plan.

“His body shots set up the ending. I’m always telling him about Micky Ward’s body shots. You know, boxing is a dance, a salsa. Boxers need to dance; I don’t think they should just be orthodox. They all need to fight the other way and when Jamaine switched stances in the third, he never let up. I’ve trained him hard. I’m always on him and what better way to shut me up than ending it like he did on pay per view? It was a drop the microphone moment!”

Ortiz is promoted by Jimmy Burchfield (Classic Entertainment and Sports) and advised by Richard Shappy and Eddie Imondi.

Because of the uncertainty in boxing due to the pandemic, Ortiz’ 2021 schedule is unknown, but he isn’t boxing’s best kept secret anymore, “The Technician” is a bonafide rising star.




Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. fight to draw in Exhibition

Legends Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. fought to a draw in their exhibition bout at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Tyson looked to land power shots while Jones fought mostly on the outside. There was a lot of clinching, and neither man was ever in serious danger throughout the fight which consisted of eight-two minute rounds.

Tyson landed 67 of 193 punches. Jones was 37 of 236.

Jake Paul destroys Nate Robinson in 2

Youtube star Jake Paul destroyed former NBA Slam Dunk champion Nate Robinson in round two of their scheduled six-round cruiderweight fight.

Paul drilled Robinson with a booming right that sent him hard to the canvas. Seconds later, Paul landed a perfect combination that sent Robinson out cold and the fight was stopped.

Paul, 189 lbs is 2-0 with two knockouts. Robinson is 0-1.

Jack decisions McKernan

Former world champion Badou Jack pounded away and won an eight-round unanimous decision over Blake McKernan in a cruiserweight bout.

Jack landed 203 of 520 punches; McKernan was 92 of 471.

Jack, 188 3/4 lbs won by scores of 80-72 on all cards, and is now 23-3-2. McKernan, 186 3/4 lbs is 13-1.

Ortiz Stops Segawa in 7

Jamaine Ortiz remained undefeated by stopping Sulaiman Segawa in round seven of their scheduled eight-round lightweight bout.

Ortiz dropped Segawa with a body shot. Segawa tried to fight on but the e fight was stopped at 2:50.

Ortiz, 133 1/2 lbs is now 14-0 with eight knockouts. Segawa, 131 3/4 lbs is 13-3-1.

Edward Vazquez remained undefeated with an eight-round split decision over Irvin Gonzalez in a featherweight bout.

Vazquez, 125 1/4 lbs won two cards 77-75. Gonzalez won a scorecard 77-75.

Vazquez is 9-0. Gonzalez is 14-3.




A cut above? Ortiz-Quiroz may be Twin River’s greatest hit

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Feb. 12th, 2019) — The numbers don’t lie: Next weekend’s showdown between Jamaine Ortiz and Ricardo Quiroz may not only be the biggest fight of the year at Twin River Casino Hotel, it might be the biggest, most important bout in the venue’s decade-long history.

Ortiz of Worcester, Mass., and Quiroz of Oxnard, Calif., put their unbeaten records on the line Saturday, Feb. 23rd, 2019 for the vacant WBC World Youth Lightweight Championship in one of three scheduled title bouts in next weekend’s CES Boxing season opener.

Since the Event Center opened its doors to boxing in 2017, CES Boxing has promoted 54 events at the mecca of New England boxing, and the eight-round world-title showcase between Ortiz (9-0, 4 KOs) and Quiroz (10-0, 5 KOs) marks the 27th time two undefeated fighters have faced one another.

Among the most notable occurrences, Philadelphia’s Hank Lundy, 10-0 at the time, battled 7-0 Esteban Almarez in 2008; a year later, reigning WBO world champion Demetrius Andrade of Providence put his 7-0 record on the line against soon-to-be Rhode Island fan-favorite Chris Chatman, who was 4-0 at the time; and in May of 2017 Ray Oliveira Jr., 7-0 entering the fight, faced Maine’s Casey Kramlich, who boasted an unbeaten 6-0-1 record.

Ortiz-Quiroz is a cut above.

In addition to fighting for the prestigious WBC Youth title, the two boast more combined wins (19) than any of the previous undefeated fighters who faced one another in Twin River’s illustrious history. There’s no comparison: Ortiz-Quiroz is worth the price of admission as two of the sport’s brightest stars in the 135-pound division battle for the right to call themselves champion in a fight that will undoubtedly change the career of whoever comes out on top.

Tickets start at $47 and are available online at www.cesboxing.com or www.showclix.com, or by phone at 401-724-2253. Ortiz-Quiroz also makes history as part of the world’s first ultra-high definition, high dynamic range event — also known as 4K — streaming live via VIVE Network TV. The VIVE app is available on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Play (Android TV), iOS, Roku and all smart TVs. Visit https://tickets.vivetv.network to purchase. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

“There is no bigger fight in New England than this one,” CES Boxing president Jimmy Burchfield Sr. said. “In our 27 years of promoting combat sports, I haven’t looked forward to a fight as much as I’m looking forward to this one.

“Jamaine Ortiz is as talented a fighter as you’ll find in New England. No one works harder or has a brighter future. He has a tough road ahead of him on the 23rd. Ricardo Quiroz comes from a true fighting city in Oxnard. He trains in one of the best gyms in the world. We know the pedigree of fighters who claim Oxnard as their home and we know what to expect when he steps into the ring next weekend.

“The hype is real — the winner will have earned this title the hard way.”

The history of the WBC Youth title is well-documented, as is CES Boxing’s history at the renowned Twin River Event Center. In its 55th event at the Lincoln, R.I., venue, the promotion may have put together its best fight card to date. In addition to Quiroz-Ortiz, the lineup features two more title bouts, plus the long-awaited return of Providence female featherweight sensation Shelly Vincent (23-2, 1 KO), who steps into the ring at Twin River for the first time in three years.

Vincent battles Hungary’s Edina Kiss (15-9 KOs) in an eight-round rematch of their 2015 bout, which Vincent by majority decision. Female super bantamweights Marcia Agripino (3-1-1) of Ledyard, Conn., and Boston’s Amanda Pavone (6-0, 2 KOs) face one another in an eight-round bout for the vacant New England Championship and hard-hitting heavyweight Juiseppe Cusumano (17-2, 15 KOs) battles “Brutal” Brendan Barrett (7-1-2, 5 KOs) of Ventura, Calif., for the National Boxing Association (NBA) World Heavyweight Title in an eight-round special feature.

Also on the undercard, Taunton, Mass., welterweight Marqus Bates (5-2, 3 KOs) faces Jair Ramos (5-2-2, 2 KOs) of Waterbury, Conn., in a six-round bout and super lightweight Nicholas Briggs (2-0, 2 KOs) of Worcester puts his unbeaten record on the line against Andy Aiello (1-1-1) of Bridgewater, Mass., in a four-round bout. Unbeaten Pawtucket, R.I., super featherweight Ricky Delossantos (6-0, 1 KO) returns in his toughest test to date against U.S. Army National Guardsman Javar Jones (7-1, 2 KOs) of Indianapolis.

Providence junior middleweights Victor Reynoso (2-0, 2 KOs) battles 1-0 John Williams of Baton Rouge, La., who scored a knockout win in his pro debut in August, while fellow unbeaten junior middleweight Lamont Powell (2-0, 1 KO) of Providence faces 29-year-old Kenneth Chery (1-1, 1 KO) of Montreal, Quebec. Likewise, Providence lightweight Michael Valentin (4-0, 1 KO) returns from a one-year layoff to face Philadelphia’s Christopher Burgos (1-3-1, 1 KO) in a four-round bout and decorated New York City amateur Arnold Gonzalez makes his long-awaited professional debut in a four-round super lightweight bout against Falls Church, Va., veteran Stacey Anderson (0-4).

Visit www.cesboxing.com, www.twitter.com/cesboxing or www.facebook.com/cesboxing for more information, or follow CES Boxing on Instagram at @CESBOXING.