As Vasiliy Lomachenko’s ring return nears, most of the build-up hasn't exactly been centered around his upcoming foe, Jamaine Ortiz. Instead, fans of the 34-year-old former multi-divisional champion have salivated over the possibility of what’s next.

According to longtime promoter Bob Arum, should Lomachenko pick up the win against Ortiz, he will be immediately ushered into a showdown against undisputed lightweight champion, Devin Haney.

While Ortiz understands that a matchup between Lomachenko and Haney is attention-grabbing and carries a ton of sex appeal, the 26-year-old is uninterested in watching it become a reality. Although he respects Lomachenko and everything he’s accomplished throughout his illustrious career, come Saturday night, he believes that Haney will have a new opponent standing before him.  

“I’m not paying too much attention to the media,” said Ortiz to BoxingScene.com when asked if he's being dismissed as an inconsequential foe. “So I’m not hearing that type of content too much but after October 29th, it’s going to be a whole different story. After that day, all them posters and everything about him fighting Devin Haney next is all going to switch up and my face is going to be there.”

Haney, 23, just recently placed his rivalry with George Kambosos Jr. to bed following back-to-back one-sided victories. Soon after, the Las Vegas resident brazenly turned his attention toward Lomachenko.

Nevertheless, Ortiz (16-0-1, 8 KOs) continues to smile sinisterly in the background. Since being forced to settle for a majority decision draw against Joseph Adorno at the midway point of the 2021 calendar, Ortiz has reeled off two consecutive victories. His latest, a close but clear unanimous decision win over former champion Jamel Herring, pushed the 26-year-old into the public eye.

Still, despite nabbing the biggest win of his career, Ortiz continues to move forward. With his steely eyes beaming with determination and conviction, Ortiz is firmly of the belief that a win over Lomachenko is just the beginning.

“I see myself becoming undisputed.”