---
title: "Ortiz Looking To Make Up For Lost Time After Lay-Off"
canonical: "https://boxing-social.com/news/ortiz-looking-to-make-up-for-lost-time/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Shaun Brown"
section: "News"
published: "2022-06-21T10:23:59Z"
modified: "2022-06-21T11:09:12Z"
---

# Ortiz Looking To Make Up For Lost Time After Lay-Off

WBO number one contender Vergil Ortiz Jr is looking to make up for lost time having not fought since his [impressive win over Egidijus Kavaliauskas](https://wp.boxing-social.com/news/ortiz-breaks-down-kavaliauskas-in-eight/) last year.

By the time he faces Michael McKinson on August 6 in Texas it will have been nearly one year since the undefeated welterweight picked up his 18th career win.

Ortiz at a recent virtual media roundtable said:

> “We are ready to go.”
>
> “I really want to get back into the ring. By the time I fight this August, it will almost be a whole year. I would love to fight at least twice this year and stay even busier next year.”

Ortiz v McKinson had been due to go ahead back in March, but illness put the 24-year-old in hospital postponing the fight. The British welterweight may not have got the opportunity he wanted at the time but a win against late replacement Alex Martin ensured the trip to Los Angeles had not been a waste of time.

“I was very disappointed that I didn’t get to fight \[on March 19\] especially since we found out I wasn’t able to go on, literally, the week of the fight,” Ortiz recalled.

“It’s not like I wanted to waste a whole training camp and some months before that; that’s not me. I did see Michael McKinson fight that night. I didn’t think too much about it. First of all, he fought someone who had a completely different style than I. But we are aware of how he fights, so we have a little more tape to go off of.

“Michael McKinson is ranked (fifth) by the WBO, he’s undefeated, it would look good on my résume if I defeat him. He’s a good fighter.”