Jamaine Ortiz earned his biggest win to date Saturday night on ESPN, out-working ex-Olympian and former world champion Jamel Herring via unanimous decision, 96-64 (judge Chris Migliore), and 97-93 twice (Max DeLuca and David Sutherland), at Resorts World Event Center to defend his NABF lightweight title and add the USBA crown to his résumé.
Ranked No. 18 in the WBC entering the weekend, Ortiz is now 16-0-1 after beating Herring and primed for the next big step in his career at time when the lightweight division is as competitive as its been in decades.
Ortiz, 26, threw 167 more punches than the 36-year-old Herring, landed 71 more, including 54 to the body, and did his best work in the later rounds. Rounds 9 and 10 were Ortiz at his peak as he more than doubled Herring’s output over the final six minutes.
