By Adam Baskin: Vasily Lomachenko will be fighting this Saturday, October 29th, against unbeaten lightweight prospect Jamaine Ortiz in the main event on ESPN+ at Madison Square Garden in New York. The event start time is at 5:30 p.m. ET.

If Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KOs) is successful against the 26-year-old Ortiz (16-0-1, 8 KOs), he could potentially challenge undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney next, assuming he doesn’t vacate his belts to move up to 140.

Considering how unenthusiastic Haney appeared when asked about Lomachenko following his victory over George Kambosos Jr on October 16th, it may take a lot of convincing for Top Rank to persuade him to stay at 135 for one more fight.

The former three-division world champion Lomachenko last fought in December, beating former lightweight champ Richard Commey by a 12 round unanimous decision.

In the co-feature, two-time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez (10-1, 6 KOs) will battle Jose Matias Romero (26-2, 9 KOs) in a 10-round bout. Romero has only lost to Michel Rivera and Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz.

The Cuban Ramirez had been previously scheduled to face former super bantamweight world champion Jessie Magdaleno, but he pulled out of the fight due to an injury.

“Loma should be next and probably will be next. We don’t know how much longer Haney is going to be,” said Andre Ward to Top Rank Boxing. “I think Loma is the right guy.”

“Yes, that’s definitely a fight I’ll entertain,” said Devin Haney when asked by Bernardo Osuna of ESPN if he sees himself fighting Lomachenko next.

“Who is the best prospect in the lightweight division? You couldn’t find a better prospect than [Jamaine] Ortiz,” said Lomachenko’s manager Egis Klimas.

“He’s 16-0, undefeated; he’s young, hungry, and he’s dangerous. That’s what team Loma wants. He likes the risk; he likes the challenge. That’s what makes Loma be Loma.”

“Now I have a big motivation, bigger than before this fight with Teofimo,” said Lomachenko. “I believe if God gives me this chance one more time, I will take it. Now, I have a chance to be a world champion. The next step is October 29th.

“If I win this fight, maybe we can sign the contract with Haney. I believe I will win this fight.

“Remember where we were a year ago. This fight was supposed to go to Vasyl Lomachenko, and then this war broke out, and that stopped what was supposed to happen,” said ESPN’s Mark Kriegel.

“Devin Haney stepped in [and fought then unified lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr]. I’d like to see Loma get his shot.”