Victor Ortiz's mother abandoned him at the age of 7. Five years later, his father left, too. So, it's surprising to hear the 22-year-old light welterweight boxing star say that his life is still "hell."
"When you're champion, everyone wants to take it from you," Ortiz told FanHouse recently." So, you have to put yourself physically and mentally through hell to keep what you have already."
Ortiz faces Marcos Maidana on Saturday for the World Boxing Association light welterweight interim title.The bout airs live on HBO's "Boxing After Dark" from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Ortiz is one of the bright young stars signed to Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions. And he believes that his tough upbringing continues to fuel his quest to be the best in the ring.
"It drives me," he said. "I'm not going to lie; it does drive me. That whole tough background, it's what some people need sometimes."
Asked whether his parents have tried to reinsert themselves back into his life now that he is famous, Ortiz quickly replied, "No. Thank God.
"They have their own lifestyles and I've got mine. I'm holding up OK. Not the best, but I'm OK."
Ortiz is certainly holding up in his boxing career. After winning the 2003 PAL amateur national championships, he fell just short of making the 2004 Olympic team. Since turning pro in 2004, he's 24-1-1, with 19 (T)KOs. He's lone blemish came after he knocked his opponent, Corey Alarcon, down three times in the first round of a 2005 bout, but his third knockdown was deemed illegal because it came after the referee told the fighters to separate from the clinch. Alarcon stayed down, and was awarded the DQ finish.
Ortiz, the 2008 ESPN.com prospect of the year, will face the toughest test in his young career in the form of Maidana. The Argentine is 25-1 with 24 of his victories coming via (T)KO. Amazingly, twenty-one of his opponents haven't made it past the third round. His only loss came in his last fight against Andriy Kotelnik, who is also fighting on Saturday night against Amir Khan in a highly-anticipated WBA world light welterweight title fight. If Ortiz defeats Maidana this weekend, he could very well earn a shot at the winner of that fight.
"I don't really care," Ortiz said when asked about facing the winner of Kotelnik-Khan in the future. "And on top of that, I'm not looking past this next fight. I'm 100% focused on Marcos Maidana and no one else."
A win on Saturday will also ensure that the life Ortiz describes as "hell" will only become more challenging and pressure-filled. He appears to be focused on ensuring that happens.
Why New England Town Wants $286,000 Police 'Tank'
Congress Agrees On Payroll Tax Cut, Unemployment Extension
House Dems Walk Out Of Birth Control Hearing
Santorum Backer: 'In My Days, They Used Bayer Aspirin For Contraception'
Iran Offers To Talk
'Colbert Report' Abruptly Suspends Production For The Week
Chaos Inside Burning Barracks
WATCH: Fox News Host Makes Shocking Comment About Black Rep.
Pelosi Rips GOP Over Birth Control: I May Be "Moved To Explain Biology To My Colleagues"
Apple Lifts The Veil On Gorgeous New OS X
Rahm Vows To Push For Gay Marriage In Illinois
WATCH: CNN Contributor Compares Sarah Palin To Snooki
RECOVERING THE RECOVERY: A Good Sign For American Jobs
Local Fishers Deliver Invasive Potomac River Menace To Legendary Manhattan Eatery
Steel Beams Crash 40 Stories At WTC Construction Site
House Democrat Mocks Newt Gingrich For Birth Control Comments
The Most Expensive City In The World Is...
Payroll Tax Cut: A Win For Scott Brown
Deanna Fei: ASIAN MEN CAN JUMP
Amanda Knox Receives Book Deal
Walsh: Boehner Not Trying Hard Enough To Repeal Obamacare
Putin's First Ride Fail
How Jeremy Lin Proves Everything We Know About Investing Is Wrong
Jimmy Carter Casts Movement As 'Relatively Successful'
Actress In Controversial China Political Ad Apologizes
