Prediction.

Kavaliauskas hits very hard, especially with the right hand, I don't think he's much of a step up for Ortiz outside his power, but he can hurt Ortiz if he lands clean, and this is a great chin and recovery test for Ortiz, and those aspects are very important. In terms of fundamentals, there is no comparison, Ortiz can easily out jab Kavaliauskas, and if he can hold centre ring and back him up with the jab, he can control the fight, because Kavaliauskas is reliant on being on the front foot.

Ortiz's timing and accuracy are better than Kavaliauskas's, he's defensively better, and he can definitely out box him, Kavaliauskas will struggle to land his right hand clean because Ortiz will be ready for it, and because of Ortiz's jab, but whenever Kavaliauskas can cut the distance, the fight will be interesting, both fighters can fight on the inside, Ortiz is much easier to hit to the body than the head, it will be interesting to see if Kavaliauskas's body shots take a toll down the stretch, and if that allows him to impose his tactics. Ortiz hasn't been past 8 rounds, his pacing and stamina will be tested, but Kavaliauskas is likely to tire, he is a very easy target for Ortiz's jab, and his stamina isn't great. Ortiz's footwork is great, he cuts off the ring very well, and that will make it even easier for him to walk Kavaliauskas down if he's backing up. Kavaliauskas doesn't have a great chin, Ortiz can definitely hurt him, and I don't think Kavaliauskas's survival skill is good.

I think Ortiz will out work Kavaliauskas behind the jab in the early rounds, will struggle to back Kavaliauskas up, but Kavaliauskas will struggle to force the fight, Kavaliauskas will have success when he let's his hands go, but Ortiz will defend well. I think Kavaliauskas will have success, and he will hurt Ortiz, but Ortiz will get back behind his jab, will continue to defend well, will be patient with his power shots, and will recover. I think Kavaliauskas will take more out of himself by forcing his fight, Ortiz will knock a lot out of him with the jab to the head and body, and when Kavaliauskas backs up, the momentum will swing in Ortiz's favour. I think Ortiz will walk Kavaliauskas down in the late rounds, and will do more and more damage with the right hand and left hook.

I think Ortiz will stop Kavaliauskas in the late rounds, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Kavaliauskas went the distance, I'd be surprised if Kavaliauskas won, but I'd be surprised if Ortiz stopped him inside 6 rounds.

Great performance from Ortiz, it was a step up, he proved more than in any of his other fights, and it was a great learning fight for him. Ortiz struggled to back Kavaliauskas up, which is why Kavaliauskas was competitive, Kavaliauskas hurt Ortiz in round 2, Ortiz briefly tried to stay in the pocket and out fight Kavaliauskas, I think he was legitimately knocked down, and like against Crawford, Kavaliauskas was robbed of a knock down, but Ortiz's recovery was great, he listened to his corner, went back to the jab, was disciplined, didn't get reckless when he scored his own knock down, he got countered when he threw lead power shots, but he knew the jab was important, and he didn't try too hard to back Kavaliauskas up. Ortiz proved he could hold up mentally when he's put on the back foot, showed tactical discipline, and the finish was great, was balanced, picked his shots, but didn't let Kavaliauskas off the hook, the key was the damage to the body.