Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz was a eager observer on the Shakur Stevenson vs. Edwin de los Santos struggle in Las Vegas final Thursday evening. The bout befell on the T-Cell Enviornment with the vacant WBC Light-weight title on the road.
Whereas the 27-year-old contender was rooting for his compatriot to tug off what would have been a significant upset, however Stevenson got here away with a call win.
“I’d wish to get within the ring in opposition to him in January or February,” mentioned Ortiz (17-1-1, 8 KOs), whose uncle is a part of Staff de los Santos.
A struggle in opposition to Stevenson was virtually a actuality for Ortiz only a few months in the past, when fellow light-weight contender Frank Martin pulled out of a struggle in opposition to Shakur after first accepting it. The transfer opened the likelihood for Jamaine to lastly struggle for a world title.
“We had been very shut to creating a struggle in opposition to Shakur occur,” explains Ortiz. “Shakur’s staff had been taking place the rankings of the WBC, and everybody was turning the struggle down. I might’ve taken it, however de los Santos was one spot forward of me within the rankings and he accepted the struggle.”
With de los Santos taking the struggle, Ortiz went again to the drafting board. However quite than sit again and wait for one more alternative to materialize, Jamaine determined to take issues into his personal fingers.
“I’m now not ready,” emphasizes Ortiz. “I’m out right here initiating my subsequent transfer. I’m calling these guys out. I’m uninterested in ready.”
Ortiz’s final struggle was a 10-round unanimous determination win in September in opposition to battle examined Mexican contender Antonio Moran. The bout befell at a catchweight of 138 kilos, main many to take a position that the Worcester native’s days as a light-weight had been over.
Whereas Ortiz admits that he’s contemplating a transfer to 140, he insists that there are nonetheless just a few massive fights that will encourage him again to the light-weight division.
“My final struggle was at 138 in order that I may see how I felt on the greater weight,” says Ortiz. “If there’s an opportunity that I can face Shakur or Tank Davis, I’ll do it at 135. If not, I’m seeking to go to 140 and wish to struggle Teofimo Lopez.”
Along with Stevenson and Davis at light-weight and Lopez at junior welterweight, The Technician is eyeing the winner of the WBC junior welterweight title bout on December ninth between champion Regis Prograis and former undisputed light-weight king Devin Haney.
“I might 100% have an interest within the winner of Prograis vs. Haney, but when Haney wins, I do know Devin doesn’t need to struggle me,” laments Ortiz. “Each time I’m in Las Vegas, I’m going to the Prime Rank gymnasium, and each time I point out it to his individuals, they inform me that it’s not going to occur. He received’t take the struggle.”