By Bill Emes
Former welterweight champion Victor Ortiz (29-4-2, 22KOs) is hungry to return. Ortiz has been sidelined since the June TKO loss to Josesito Lopez. Ortiz, who was ahead on the scorecards at the time of TKO, was stopped in nine rounds after suffering a broken jaw. The injury was severe and Ortiz had to undergo surgery.
Ortiz is still going through the healing process. He wants to return by the first half of 2013. Currently, the boxer landed a movie role and has a few opportunities outside of the sport. Ortiz, who resides in California, flew to New York to watch some of his friends compete at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
"[My layoff], it's really not by choice that I'm out. It's the broken jaw. It kind of takes you out for a little bit. It makes you appreciate the sport for what it is. I saw four of my good friends tonight and they all won. It kind of get s you down and said, but it also makes me happy for them. For my own sake, it makes me want to come back soon. When I come back I want to wipe out all of the divisions, from 147 to 154," Ortiz said to BoxingScene.com.
"They told me I would be out six to eight months because of the jaw. They said a year would be perfect, but I don't know man...I've been missing boxing a little too much for a year. I just have to stay positive and focus on what I've got outside of the ring."
"As of right now I don't have a coaching team or a management staff just yet......but everything is in the works. Before I do anything, before any boxing takes place, I want to have prestigious team."
