By Jake Donovan

The comeback remains intact for Victor Ortiz even if the opponent has once again changed. 

Gilberto Sanchez-Leon is the latest to be assigned the task of facing the former welterweight champion this weekend in San Antonio, Texas. The bout comes in supporting capacity to a loaded bill topped by Omar Figueroa and Antonio DeMarco in a battle of former lightweight champions, which airs live in primetime on NBC (Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. local time). 

Ortiz' showcase appearance airs live in a lead-in telecast on NBC Sports Network. Getting his fight to that point has proven to be as frustrating as the year-long healing process he was forced to endure while sitting out for most of 2015. 

Sanchez-Leon (33-13-2, 13KOs) comes in as a late replacement for Orlando Lora, who - just days after being named as Ortiz' opponent - was scratched from the show for undisclosed reasons. The 34-year old journeyman from Mexico accepts the fight on the heels of a 10-round decision loss to Wale Omotoso in October.

Ortiz (30-5-2, 23KOs) has been out of the ring since his last intended comeback, a 3rd round knockout of Manuel Perez last December. It will have been exactly 52 weeks since that fight by the time the opening bell sounds, though the former champ remains in good spirits. 

"It's boxing," Ortiz says of the roadblocks and hurdles he's been forced to navigate around in the past year. "We've paid our dues and now I'm ready for anything."

The win over Perez last year was suppose to mark a new beginning for Ortiz. He entered the fight following an 11-month break after having previously lost three straight, including what was believed to be a career-damaging two-round knockout loss to Luis Collazo last January. 

Fights were scheduled at different points in 2015, but he was forced to sit out most of the year in order to full recover from damage to his wrist that was broken in four different places. Assuming things remain on course between now and Saturday, the hope is to get the win and build towards a big 2016 campaign. 

"I used to get frustrated over this stuff, but I've learned that things happen for a reason," Ortiz notes. "It's a crazy sport, but all I can do is take it one day at a time." 

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of krikya360.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox