Undefeated WBC Youth World lightweight champion Jamaine "The Technician" Ortiz Missing Thanksgiving to fight on Tyson-Jones, Jr. card in L.A.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 25 Nov 2020
WORCESTER, Mass. (November 24, 2020) - Many if not most Americans will be enjoying a traditional Thanksgiving meal this Thursday, eating turkey, stuffing and pie, along with watching pro football all day and night. Not so, though, for undefeated lightweight prospect
Jamaine "The Technician" Ortiz (13-0, 7 KOs), who will be flying from Boston to Los Angeles, to fight on Saturday night's high-profile Mike Tyson-Roy Jones, Jr. show at Staples Center.
Ortiz, the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) Youth World lightweight champion, will take on Ugandan southpaw Sulaiman Segawa (13-2-1, 4 KOs), fighting out of Maryland, in an 8-round match for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) USNBC (U.S) lightweight title.
The 24-year-old Ortiz will travel with his head coach, Rocky Gonzalez, and cut-man Kendrick Ball, who will fill in for "The Godfather of Worcester (MA), boxing," Carlos Garcia. He will not travel cross-country during the COVID-19 pandemic because of his advanced age. A National Golden Gloves Hall of Fame trainer, Garcia was Ortiz' first boxing coach as an amateur, and he has worked his fellow Worcester resident's corner during Ortiz' 4 ½-year professional career.
"Carlos will be with us in spirit," Ortiz said. "We understand. Fighting is my career and part of that is missing out on Thanksgiving this year. I'll be eating on the plane. This is more important, just business, part of my job. It is what it is. I'm a big family person and I see them on a regular basis, not just on holidays. I'll get to eat my turkey when I return home."
Ortiz like most boxers hasn't been active due to the pandemic. His last fight was this past February at home in Worcester when he stopped Luis Ronaldo Castillo (22-5) in the second round.
Segawa's last fight was an 8-round split draw with Zhora Hamazaryan (9-1-1) in January. In 2018, he lost decisions to Abraham Nova (12-0) for the vacant NABA super featherweight title and William Foster (7-0) for the vacant crown. Ortiz knows both of those fighters well having defeated Nova in the amateurs and New Haven's Foster is a fellow New Englander.
"He's a tough dude," Ortiz spoke about Segawa. "His fight with Nova was close (96-94, 96-94, 97-93). He took both the distance; they couldn't take him down. And he's beaten some undefeated fighters (10-0 Godwin Rosa, 6-0 Brian Gallegos).
"He's a good fighter who can win rounds. A slick fighter, but he can be a little wild, and that can be dangerous. It's going to be challenging for me. I need to be smart, listen, and be tight. I can't get caught when he throws wild punches."
Although Segawa is a replacement and the opposite of his original opponent, Jamaine isn't overly concerned that Segawa is a southpaw, even though he's only fought one lefty as a pro (Victor Rosas in 2018), because to some extent he is ambidextrous.
"Luckily," Ortiz concluded, "I had good sparring with a southpaw. I fight left-handed a lot myself. I shoot basketballs left-handed, bat left-handed in baseball, and arm wrestled with my left hand. A friend just sent me a picture from 2007 and I was in a southpaw stance."
Ortiz is promoted by Jimmy Burchfield (Classic Entertainment and Sports) and advised by Richard Shappy and Eddie Imondi.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Is Floyd chickening out?
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 01 Apr 2026Bacaro to challenge Toyoshima on April 4
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 01 Apr 2026IBA steps forward as potential organiser for Bivol vs Beterbiev trilogy bout
Wed, 01 Apr 2026PBF president Almario dies
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 01 Apr 2026Portland Trail Blazers have new owner after $4.25 billion sale
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 01 Apr 20262 Time World Champion Marcos Maidana Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
Wed, 01 Apr 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 30 MARCH 2026: Itauma Destroys Franklin in 5; Fundora Dismantles Thurman in 6
By Eric Armit, Tue, 31 Mar 2026Panamanian WBC Judge Jesus Aleman murdered in Panama
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 31 Mar 2026‘I won’t be holding anything back! – Big Bad Bazley challenges The Pilgrim Ryan Williams for Heavyweight title May 29 in Perth – Thunderdome 54
Tue, 31 Mar 2026ZAYAS AND BOOTS CLASH IN UNIFIED BLOCKBUSTER AT BARCLAYS CENTER, BROOKLYN ON JUNE 27 – LIVE AND EXCLUSIVE ON DAZN PPV
Tue, 31 Mar 2026Manny Pacquiao Promotions Announces Full Card to Join Taduran Vs. Perez on Friday, April 3, at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. Live on ESPN Knockout
Tue, 31 Mar 202613-0 prospect Marco Romero hasn’t lost a Fight in nearly 7 years and he’s only 20
Tue, 31 Mar 2026WORLD ELITE SUMO ANNOUNCES NEW DATE – SATURDAY, MAY 16 – FOR LIVE PROFESSIONAL SUMO EVENT AT PRUDENTIAL CENTER
Tue, 31 Mar 2026Filipino boy, 15, wins US chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 31 Mar 202660 Years of Top Rank: Bob Arum’s First Fight Launched a Boxing Empire
Mon, 30 Mar 2026