Former welterweight boxing champ Victor Ortiz knew he’d danced his last routine on "Dancing With the Stars" after performing a disappointing rumba with pro partner Lindsay Arnold on Monday night.
“My performance didn’t come through as it had in rehearsal,” Ortiz candidly shared with reporters after being eliminated Tuesday. "I accepted on Monday that we’d be eliminated.”
Ortiz said he doesn’t regret his "Dancing" run -- which included the video package that showed him opening up about a failed relationship. “I don’t take any of this experience back,” he said. “I loved every minute of it. I’m still winning because I made some great friends, and (met) a great gal, too. I’ll always be a fan of Miss Lindsay.”
Arnold, like other ejected pros, will return for results show performances. She also hopes to return next season with another star.
“I grew so much this season,” she said.
Meanwhile, Ortiz already has plans to return to the ring. “I made a call a few weeks back because I had a feeling I’d be eliminated soon,” he revealed. “I notified my management to get me a fight. I’ll be fighting again in the next couple of months for a world championship.”
Arnold and Ortiz will take to the dance floor one more time when all the ejected couples return for the season finale in May. While some eliminated stars don’t relish that thought, it’s actually fine with Ortiz.
“That’ll work to my advantage,” he said. “I’ll have a break to do my thing for a while and then I’ll come back and say, ‘Let’s charge at this!’