Start. Stop. Start. Stop.

For now, that's been the pattern of Jamaine Ortiz's career. There will be times when he has momentum under his belt, like when he pitched victories over Nahir Albright and former champion Jamel Herring across a three-month span in 2022.

However, like in 2021 and 2023 when he fought once a year, the one-time world title challenger quickly became a forgotten member of the 140lb picture.

So far, 2025 has treated him right after pitching a lopsided 10-round decision win over Yomar Alamo on March 15. It wasn't the biggest fight of his career, though matchups like that allow him to stay relevant, plus his talents were showcased on DAZN under the Matchroom banner after his Top Rank agreement elapsed last year.

Although boxing has been quick to put him on the back burner previously, Ortiz (19-2-1, 9 KOs) made it clear that he refuses to be pushed aside.

"I'm doing my part and staying active," Ortiz told The Ring during a recent interview. "I'm letting people know that they can't forget about me and I'm coming."

Although he has two losses on his record, Ortiz looked good in decision defeats by Teofimo Lopez and the recently-retired former three-weight world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko.

Lopez hasn't expressed any interest in running things back, rather focused on big-money opportunities, while Lomachenko won't give him a chance to avenge that competitive defeat after the Ukrainian officially announced he'd hung up the gloves earlier this month.

However, those men aren't his only path to world honours. Alberto Puello's WBC belt will be up for grabs against Subriel Matias next month, while Gary Antuanne Russell has the WBA title in his possession awaiting news for his forthcoming first championship defence.

Expanding on his potential options, Ortiz was recently spotted sitting ringside last weekend as Richardson Hitchins dropped and stopped George Kambosos Jr to make the first defence of his IBF world title at New York's Madison Square Garden Theater.

Ortiz beat Hitchins via split decision while both were amateurs back in 2015, as part of the country's Olympic Trial Qualifiers. A decade on, it's something that still irks the New York native and would be a voluntary defence he could indulge in, to avenge that loss.

Earning a title shot won't happen immediately, though if Ortiz is able to snatch an eye-catching victory or two against highly-ranked contenders, he could place himself in position. The way he sees it, there will be a chance to shine sooner rather than later.

"My time is coming."