IN the early hours of Sunday morning live from the Hulu Theater in Madison Square Garden, New York, the great Vasiliy Lomachenko returns with vengeance in mind.

The most technical fighter in boxing is back against undefeated Jamaine Ortiz in a matchup that should provide Loma with the platform to lay claim for a shot at all the marbles at 135lb.

Already a three-weight world champion, from featherweight to lightweight, the Ukrainian wizard needs no introduction in boxing circles.

Following boxing’s greatest amateur career, in which he captured gold at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics whilst going 396-1, the 34-year-old has cemented his legacy as one of the best to ever do it.

However, as a pro, his 18-fight card already shows two blemishes. In his second fight he lost a split decision world title fight to an overweight Orlando Salido.

Loma brushed it off, went on to win world titles at feather, super-featherweight and lightweight. But during lockdown a unification fight with Teofimo Lopez blew up in his face.

Behind closed doors in New York, Lopez shocked the world by outboxing and out-punching Lomachenko to claim all the belts and inflict the first truly undeniable loss on the champ.

Lopez would go on to lose in his first defence, and eventually those belts would all land in the lap of unbeaten American Devin Haney who, now also signed with Top Rank, awaits this weekend’s victor.

Naturally, Loma starts as a substantial favourite, but 16-0-1 Ortiz will be boyed by Lopez’s upset and understands opportunity knocks to change his life.

The 26-year-old American also lands in the Big Apple fresh off his biggest win to date, against former world champ Jamel Herring in May. Like Loma, a natural southpaw.

But the timing of the Herring opportunity was kind to Ortiz, as he just been pushed out of the title picture by rising superstar Shakur Stevenson. Loma has much more motivation to bring his A game.

“The next big fight we’ll have, assuming Lomachenko gets by next Saturday on the 29th in New York, I want to make Lomachenko and Haney,” says Top Rank boss Arum.

Loma has won impressively twice since being shocked by Lopez two years ago, stopping Masayoshi Nakatani inside nine rounds before picking up the WBO Inter-Continental title against Richard Commey in December.

“Someone has to lose, but for me, it’s a blessing because I’m giving the fans great fights, great competitive fights,” Arum added, “[and] Shakur is moving up to the 135 division, which is loaded with talent.”

After back-to-back wins over Lopez destructor George Kambosos Jr Down Under, Haney reigns supreme at lightweight. But fan favourite Loma remains the man to beat to truly define a legacy.

No longer considered unbeatable, the humbling of Lomachenko should be enough to get Haney into the ring early in 2023. But first the old master will teach Ortiz that there are levels to this game and unbeaten records mean nothing until they are truly tested.

TIP: Loma TKO 7-9