Vergil Ortiz files lawsuit against Golden Boy Promotions

[Ruthless-RKO]

VERGIL ORTIZ FILES LAWSUIT TO TERMINATE PROMOTIONAL AGREEMENT WITH GOLDEN BOY

Vergil Ortiz Jr. has embraced a major fight outside the ring in an attempt to land the biggest bout of his career inside it.

The Ring has learned a lawsuit was filed on Ortiz’s behalf Thursday in a Nevada court that requests the termination of his promotional contract with Oscar De La Hoya’s company. Golden Boy Promotions, which has represented Ortiz throughout a pro career that began in July 2016, extended their contract for three years in May 2024.

Gregory M. Smith, Ortiz’s attorney, cited declaratory relief, breach of contract and interference with [prospective] economic advantage as grounds for ending that agreement in a lawsuit filed with a U.S. District Court in Nevada.

Ortiz’s hope is that separating himself from Golden Boy will help him secure the high-profile fight he wants next, a showdown with junior middleweight rival Jaron “Boots” Ennis.

Rick Mirigian, Ortiz’s manager, and De La Hoya have been at odds on social media recently regarding how negotiations for a fight versus Ennis should be handled. De La Hoya threatened legal action against Mirigian for inviting other promoters to work with Ortiz, one of boxing’s most entertaining knockout artists.

Among the claims made in Ortiz’s 32-page lawsuit, a copy of which was obtained by The Ring, is that De La Hoya’s strained relationships with competing promoters and the sport’s most prominent power broker, Turki Alalshikh, has prevented Ortiz from finalizing a deal to finally fight Ennis. De La Hoya is called “a controversial and divisive figure in boxing” in the lawsuit, which also refers to the retired six-division champion’s “history of substance abuse.”

Ennis is promoted by Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn, who has spoken countless times of a verbal agreement made with DAZN executives and De La Hoya last summer to make Ortiz-Ennis after both boxers took interim fights they easily won by knockout last fall. Alalshikh is chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority and owner of The Ring.

The lawsuit also states that the end of Golden Boy’s exclusive content partnership with DAZN affords Ortiz the right to void his promotional contract.

Golden Boy acknowledged that its DAZN deal ended December 31. Its contention to Ortiz’s handlers, according to the lawsuit, is that the company is negotiating another deal with DAZN to provide content in 2026 and 2027 and thus retains its promotional rights to Ortiz for the duration of their aforementioned three-year contract.

The lawsuit notes, too, that DAZN executives made it clear to Ortiz’s team that it would not accept any opponent next for Ortiz other than Ennis.

The bout between Ortiz, 27, and Ennis, 28, is commonly considered one of the fights boxing fans most want to watch in 2026. Offering such significant matchups to its subscribers is considered vital to DAZN’s business because the streaming service launched an Ultimate plan last fall that costs $44.99 monthly in the United States and £24.99 in the United Kingdom and is designed to include fights that are considered worthy of the pay-per-view platform.

Ortiz (WBC) and Ennis (WBA) both hold interim 154-pound championships. Ortiz (24-0, 22 KOs), of Grand Prairie, Texas, is ranked No. 1 among The Ring’s contenders for a vacant junior middleweight crown, five spots higher than Philadelphia’s Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs, 1 NC).

Ennis, however, is a former Ring, IBF and WBA welterweight champ who hasn’t come remotely close to losing since he made his pro debut in April 2016.

Ortiz’s lawsuit is the latest on a lengthy list of Golden Boy’s legal entanglements with its top fighters. Smith previously represented Canelo Alvarez when boxing’s biggest star got out of his contract with De La Hoya’s company and DAZN late in 2020 because it didn’t deliver on its initial commitment of $365 million over 11 fights.

[joshj909]

Good luck to Ortiz. De La Hoya is obviously a promoter who puts his own interests first at the detriment to his boxers. The amount of very public disputes that he has with his boxers shows that he does what he wants to do, not what they want to do.

[Spud MK2]

Good luck to Ortiz. De La Hoya is obviously a promoter who puts his own interests first at the detriment to his boxers. The amount of very public disputes that he has with his boxers shows that he does what he wants to do, not what they want to do.

Very interesting

[gilgamesh]

Good luck to Ortiz. De La Hoya is obviously a promoter who puts his own interests first at the detriment to his boxers. The amount of very public disputes that he has with his boxers shows that he does what he wants to do, not what they want to do.

I legitimately think his ego makes him not want any of his fighters to become bigger stars than himself. He seems to always be a roadblock to his guys getting the biggest opportunities instead of seeking them for his guys.

They always have to sue him or leave him to get anywhere in the sport ultimately.

[keithmoonhangover]

I have a feeling DAZN might help get this sorted, like they did with Canelo. Wouldn't be at all surprised if Virgil has his next fight for Matchroom.

[joshj909]

Good luck to Ortiz. De La Hoya is obviously a promoter who puts his own interests first at the detriment to his boxers. The amount of very public disputes that he has with his boxers shows that he does what he wants to do, not what they want to do.

I legitimately think his ego makes him not want any of his fighters to become bigger stars than himself. He seems to always be a roadblock to his guys getting the biggest opportunities instead of seeking them for his guys.

They always have to sue him or leave him to get anywhere in the sport ultimately.

Either that or seems to think that the only way for a boxer to make money or have success is to win as many onesided fights as possible and target the biggest name or belt without their being much competition.

[Taansend]

Good luck to Ortiz. De La Hoya is obviously a promoter who puts his own interests first at the detriment to his boxers. The amount of very public disputes that he has with his boxers shows that he does what he wants to do, not what they want to do.

I legitimately think his ego makes him not want any of his fighters to become bigger stars than himself.

I think you're right.

[golden_labrador]

on a separate note, cocaine is v v v bad

FREE VERGIL

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Bigdogsnose]

DLH just seems in fight mode with all other promoters. Makes everything personal. As soon as theres a delay in signing a fight, you can see whats coming next.

Good that Ortiz is standing upto him, but his career will stall and Ennis fight wont be happening.

[SeanBrennan]

I have a feeling DAZN might help get this sorted, like they did with Canelo. Wouldn't be at all surprised if Virgil has his next fight for Matchroom.

I think this will pretty much happen.

De la Hoya seems very chaotic which is sad for someone who is a real legend, none of his fighters are ever going to do better than he did so it all seems a bit silly. He’s definitely detrimental to some of his fighters with how he acts, he always ends up looking like a plonker.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Two material key clauses in @VergilOrtiz’s promotional contract signed in July 2024 with @GoldenBoyBoxing his manager @RGMBOXING and lawyer say are among the contract breaches they are suing over. The complete promotional contract is exhibit A in the lawsuit.

[Ruthless-RKO]

GBP calls for court to ‘preserve status quo pending arbitration’ with Vergil Ortiz

The timing of Matchroom Boxing’s long-term extension with DAZN made headlines on Wednesday.

It also provided an example for Golden Boy Promotions in its ongoing legal battle with Vergil Ortiz.

Barely 24 hours after Ortiz filed a Motion of Opposition to Golden Boy Promotions’ temporary restraining order (TRO), his estranged promoter followed suit with its Reply in Support of Emergency Motion in time to satisfy the court’s imposed deadline. A 10-page complaint and separate declarations, obtained and reviewed by BS, Golden Boy pointed to numerous examples where Ortiz’s own filing “admits that he has been engaged in unauthorized negotiations with third parties behind Golden Boy’s back” while the boxer has an active lawsuit against the promoter for alleged breach of contract and interference with economic advantage.

“[Ortiz] claims that “but for the Court issuing the TRO on February 13, 2026,” he already would have entered either a “three-bout agreement from Matchroom [Boxing USA LLC]” that included an April 18, 2026 bout with Jaron Ennis, or a separate three-bout agreement with an unspecified promoter.”

In the balance amidst the courtroom drama is a targeted bout between Ortiz, 24-0 (22 KOs), and Ennis, 35-0 (31 KOs). The terrific matchup has been on DAZN’s radar ever since Ennis – who is promoted by Matchroom – committed to moving up from welterweight to the 154lbs division.

Ortiz and Ennis currently hold secondary 154lbs titles.

Both boxers faced off immediately after Ortiz’s early knockout win over Erickson Lubin last November 9 – four weeks after Ennis’s 1st round knockout of Uisma Lima. The timing was seemingly perfect, and Ennis and Matchroom had already agreed to terms on their end.

Hanging in the balance, however, was an at-length dispute between Golden Boy and Ortiz’s team, specifically manager Rick Mirigian. It lingered beyond the end of the year, which coincided with the expiration of Golden Boy’s most recent contracted output deal with DAZN.

Golden Boy was since granted two separate one-off dates by the streaming service – its January 16 show in Palm Springs, and the recently announced March 16 card in Anaheim. The latter card was approved while both sides continue to work out what is hoped to be an agreement through the end of 2027.

Why a deal wasn’t reached prior to the start of 2026 is now a matter for the court to determine as the truth.

Among the supporting documents in Ortiz’s filing on Tuesday was a declaration from DAZN COO Ed McCarthy. In his sworn statement, McCarthy alleged that “DAZN remains open to seeking to agree and enter into a long-term distribution agreement with GBP on commercially reasonable terms, whether or not GBP has Mr. Ortiz under contract.”

McCarthy also noted that “DAZN is aware that, following the filing of proceedings by Mr. Ortiz against GBP and immediately prior to the recent Court Order, Mr. Ortiz was negotiating, and close to executing, an agreement with Matchroom Boxing to fight Mr. Ennis on April 18, 2026 in an event to air on DAZN.”

Both statements were made while confirming Golden Boy’s claim that DAZN was in talks with the promotional company since late 2025 to work out a new deal. McCarthy confirmed that a deal was still not in place, which was meant to support Ortiz’s claim that the absence of Golden Boy’s distribution deal would allow the boxer to trigger Section 10(g) of his promotional contract and terminate their agreement.

Instead, Golden Boy flipped it and used that claim as the leading argument in its filed response.

“Tellingly, however, Ortiz does not quote Section 10(g), the critical provision of the Promotional Agreement that purportedly gave him the right to terminate. The reason for that glaring omission is clear. Contrary to Ortiz’s assertions, Section 10(g) does not grant Ortiz “the right to withdraw from the [Promotional Agreement]” if Golden Boy’s “contract” with DAZN “was terminated or expired.” Instead, Section 10(g) only allows Ortiz to terminate the Promotional Agreement if Golden Boy’s “distribution relationship” with DAZN terminates, providing in relevant part as follows:

Promoter’s distribution relationship with DAZN is a material incentive for Boxer to enter into this Agreement. In the event that Promoter’s distribution relationship with DAZN terminates, for any reason, and Promoter does not have an agreement in principle in place for an exclusive distribution relationship with an alternative broadcaster, then Boxer shall have the right to terminate this Agreement.

“Golden Boy raised the key distinction between termination of a “relationship” and termination of a “contract” in its Motion, but Ortiz continues to ignore this distinction and the actual language of Section 10(g) by incorrectly insisting that he may terminate the Promotional Agreement simply because the most recent long-term contract between DAZN and Golden Boy expired. Ortiz continues to conflate the terms “relationship” and “contract” because he knows that Golden Boy’s “relationship” with DAZN has not terminated and, thus, he has no grounds for termination of the Promotional Agreement under Section 10(g).”

Furthermore, Golden Boy contends that the current and ongoing talks with DAZN and its two agreed-upon one-off fight dates constitutes a continued distribution relationship.

Should a judge agree with that logic, it would put Ortiz and Mirigian at risk of contract breach for freely negotiating with other promoters. Among the willing suitors was Matchroom, who offered Ortiz a three-fight deal – including the Ennis clash - worth at least $12,000,000, with the potential to grow to $20,000,000.

Furthermore, Golden Boy continued to cite its claims of irreparable harm, should the court rule to dissolve the TRO. Such a ruling would allow Ortiz to proceed with his career on his terms, and without Golden Boy along for the ride.

“Ortiz never sought permission from Golden Boy to directly negotiate with Matchroom or the other unnamed promoter referenced in the Opposition,” read the complaint. “More importantly, at no time during negotiations with Golden Boy for the Ennis fight did Matchroom ever suggest that it wanted to negotiate directly with Oritiz’s manager, Mirigian.

“Certainly, Golden Boy never “allow[ed] [Ortiz’s] representatives to directly negotiate” any bouts without Golden Boy.”

The complaint also outright dismissed any claim that Golden Boy has fallen out of favor with Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season, citing its involvement in Saturday’s DAZN pay-per-view event in Las Vegas. Golden Boy represents Ryan Garcia, who faces WBC 147lbs titlist Mario Barrios in the main event, and Oscar Duarte who challenges IBF 140lbs beltholder Richardson Hitchins in the co-feature.

The most telling part of current events in the view of Golden Boy was McCarthy’s full role within the industry.

Among the supporting documents with Wednesday’s Reply was Statement of Information Limited Liability Corporation for Matchroom’s members as seen in the state of California. McCarthy was among the six names listed as a Matchroom “manager or member”.

“McCarthy’s declaration regarding DAZN’s intentions is misleading and incomplete,” Golden Boy insisted. “In his declaration, McCarthy fails to disclose that he is also a manager and/or member of Matchroom, the promoter with whom Ortiz has been negotiating a replacement three-bout deal. Moreover, earlier [Wednesday], Matchroom and DAZN announced a new five-year exclusive broadcast contract, which means that, if Matchroom signs Ortiz, DAZN will receive the benefit of the three-bout agreement with Ortiz

“Accordingly, McCarthy and DAZN have a clear interest in the Court dissolving the TRO so that Ortiz may sign a new agreement with Matchroom.”

A hearing is scheduled for Friday in Las Vegas’ District Court. All involved parties are required to appear for a hearing and oral argument, per the court’s ruling last Friday.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Oscar De La Hoya blasts 'ungrateful' Vergil Ortiz amidst legal battle

Oscar De La Hoya has promoted Vergil Ortiz Jr. throughout his entire career and after more than a decade-long relationship that was always respectful, it’s become ugly over the last month as they try to get a deal done for a fight against Jaron Ennis.

Ortiz sued Golden Boy on January 16 to terminate his promotional agreement, and Golden Boy sued Ortiz’s manager, Rick Mirigian, seeking more than $10 million in damages.

Earlier this month, Ortiz-Ennis appeared to be getting finalized and was supposed to be set for April in Las Vegas, but Golden Boy filed a temporary restraining order that prevented Ortiz from moving forward without the company’s involvement in the fight.

De La Hoya expressed his feelings about the situation while the two sides remain entangled in a legal matter.

“It's unfortunate, I never expected this from Vergil Ortiz, not in my wildest dreams. And then out of the blue, when you're ungrateful, there's nothing I can do. I've done my job as a promoter,” De La Hoya told reporters.

“I haven't heard from Vergil Ortiz Jr. I don't even know if he knows what's going on, seriously. He did an interview in December saying how grateful he is and how I took him to the top. His father texted me during Christmas, saying, 'Thank you very much everything.' I am blindsided by this.

“I am not going to be disrespected anymore. Enough of the ‘Golden Boy’ bulls*** and Mr. Nice Guy. I'm going to protect my rights and do what we have to do.”

Ortiz Sr. shared his stance after he caught wind of De La Hoya’s comments.

“Oscar said my son is ungrateful, huh,” said Ortiz Sr. “The only reason I haven’t said anything is to keep this respectful. Wait till I go live. I’ll always remember when Vergil was sick, Óscar was nowhere to be found. No calls, nothing. So before you use the word ungrateful, look in the mirror.

“Imagine not showing up to your fighter’s big fights and nowhere to be found when he’s sick, while your best fighter kills himself to make you look good, to just be called ungrateful. Sounds like he's upset he got caught. Oh, and he’s lying about the 60/40 [split for Ortiz-Ennis].”

Ortiz (24-0, 22 KOs) and Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs) have been focused on a fight against each other since Ortiz knocked out Erickson Lubin in two rounds on November 8.

Immediately after the fight ended, Ennis and promoter Eddie Hearn entered the ring and kicked off the buildup with a face-to-face confrontation, but the negotiations for the fight has been a frustrating, drawn-out saga.

Ennis, a former Ring, IBF and WBA welterweight champion, made his 154-pound debut in October with a first-round stoppage win against Uisma Lima.

Ortiz is The Ring's No. 1-rated fighter in the junior middleweight division; Ennis is ranked fifth.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Judge grants Golden Boy’s motion for arbitration in Vergil Ortiz case

It looks like Jaron “Boots” Ennis will have to move on while Vergil Ortiz Jnr’s career remains on hold.

Golden Boy Promotions earned a huge victory in its ongoing legal battle with Ortiz, when a Nevada judge granted the company’s motion to compel arbitration. Furthermore, Monday’s ruling also denied the unbeaten WBC interim junior middleweight titlist and manager Rick Mirigian from independently negotiating with third parties prior to arbitration.

The latter was determined hours after Ortiz filed an emergency motion to dismiss the Temporary Restraining Order [TRO] filed by Golden Boy.

“While Ortiz attempts to argue application of agency principles, this argument requires that I find Golden Boy’s decision to sue Mirigian as constituting waiver,” Nevada District Judge Cristina Silva stated in a final ruling obtained by Boxing Scene. “But Ortiz fails to meaningfully analyze how those principles apply here. Ortiz also fails to cite points and authorities to support his position that Golden Boy’s decision to sue Mirigian waives its right to invoke arbitration here.

“Even so, this argument has been raised and rejected in other courts… thus, I also grant Golden Boy’s request for interim injunctive relief to allow for meaningful arbitration, so I hereby order that Ortiz may not negotiate or contract with third parties for future fights before the arbitrator addresses the parties’ dispute set forth in this action.”

The ruling came 10 days after both parties appeared before Judge Silva to present final arguments to determine whether the case should head to arbitration or be dismissed outright. The February 20 hearing was crucial for Ortiz, Matchroom Boxing and DAZN in its efforts to proceed with a desired Ortiz-Ennis clash originally targeted for this spring.

Those plans are not only shot to sunshine, but it remains unclear when the matter can be revisited as long as Ortiz is not permitted to move without resolution to this case – unless the unbeaten Texan is willing to reconcile or settle with Golden Boy.

It’s a significant ruling, given the on-the-record confirmation that Matchroom Boxing, Ennis’ promoter, was prepared to enter a three-fight, eight-figure deal with Ortiz to include the abovementioned matchup. Monday’s decision puts that arrangement on ice, if not nullifying the agreement altogether.

Ortiz’ legal team filed a lawsuit earlier this year, citing breach of contract and interference with economic advantage. The contention on the Ortiz side was that the promotional contract with Golden Boy expired once the company’s output deal with DAZN expired this past December 31.

Section 10(g) of Ortiz’s contract calls for termination of said agreement if Golden Boy’s distribution relationship with DAZN terminates, providing in relevant part as follows:

Promoter’s distribution relationship with DAZN is a material incentive for Boxer to enter into this Agreement. In the event that Promoter’s distribution relationship with DAZN terminates, for any reason, and Promoter does not have an agreement in principle in place for an exclusive distribution relationship with an alternative broadcaster, then Boxer shall have the right to terminate this Agreement.

Where Golden Boy gained its victory is in the wording of that clause. Ortiz’s team mistook the expiration of the deal, rather than taking note of the specific wording – relationship, not contract.

Golden Boy pointed to its two dates on the calendar post-contract – its January 16 show and the upcoming March 14 DAZN show from Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Furthermore, DAZN COO Ed McCarthy, in his own fumbled attempt to support Ortiz via written declaration, admitted on record that “DAZN remains open to seeking to agree and enter into a long-term distribution agreement with GBP on commercially reasonable terms, whether or not GBP has Mr. Ortiz under contract.”

McCarthy also noted that “DAZN is aware that, following the filing of proceedings by Mr. Ortiz against GBP and immediately prior to the recent Court Order, Mr. Ortiz was negotiating, and close to executing, an agreement with Matchroom Boxing to fight Mr. Ennis on April 18, 2026 in an event to air on DAZN.”

Both statements were made while confirming Golden Boy’s claim that DAZN was in talks with the promotional company since late 2025 to work out a new deal. McCarthy confirmed that a deal was still not in place – meant to support Ortiz’s claim but instead bolstered Golden Boy’s argument that there still exists a relationship, however dysfunctional at the moment.

Meanwhile, the court did not fully buy the claim from Ortiz’s legal team that Golden Boy’s filed counter lawsuit against Mirigian waives its right to invoke arbitration. In fact, the court said that the case is fit to be presented before an arbitrator.

“The totality of Golden Boy’s actions does not indicate that it waived its right to arbitration,” explained Silva. “Rather, its actions are consistent with its right to enforce the arbitration provision of the Agreement. Accordingly, I grant Golden Boy’s motion to compel arbitration. Further, because I find that this action is arbitrable, injunctive relief is necessary to preserve the status quo.”

The ruling forces Matchroom Boxing to take the next step in advancing the career of its fighter.

Ennis, 35-0 (31 KOs), entered the 154lbs division with a first-round knockout victory over Uisma Lima last October 11 in Ennis’ hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He’s spent the next four-and-a-half months waiting out Ortiz’s side.

Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn told Boxing Scene and other promoters on Saturday – while promoting the Emanuel Navarrete-Eduardo Nuñez DAZN show in Glendale, Arizona – that time was short on holding out for this fight before moving on to the next step.

“If we can’t get Vergil Ortiz, then the target we want is Xander Zayas,” insisted Hearn. “And if we can’t get him, we have another Matchroom fighter – Josh Kelly, who just won the IBF title. That’s another opportunity as well.

“I’d like to do Boots versus Vergil Ortiz and Xander versus Josh Kelly. Then the winners fight each other.”

It seems that Matchroom will instead have to mix and match to eventually get to Ortiz-Ennis, because that fight is not happening anytime soon – if at all.

“IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Golden Boy’s motion to compel arbitration and for interim injunctive relief is GRANTED,” Judge Silva ruled. “This action is STAYED pending arbitration. Because I am granting the interim injunctive relief, the parties are required to file a joint notice with the court, on September 2, 2026, advising of the status of the arbitration proceedings, or within five days of the arbitrator’s decision, whichever is first.

“IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Golden Boy’s motion to dismiss is DENIED. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Ortiz’s emergency motion is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part as set forth in this order.”

[SeanBrennan]

It’s never smooth in boxing is it..

[Ruthless-RKO]

Precedent indicates Vergil Ortiz, Golden Boy will settle before arbitration

By claiming victory this week in a Nevada court in its case with unbeaten junior-middleweight Vergil Ortiz Jnr, Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions is empowered to both scrap an anticipated showdown with Jaron “Boots” Ennis and bench Ortiz until September or beyond.

Ortiz, 24-0 (22 KOs), remained resolute about his future, despite the recent legal setback.


"Although the judge didn’t see it our way and the fight is blocked for now, my team and I will be moving on to arbitration and to the court appeal. My time with [Golden Boy] is done. I am confident that my right to move on to other opportunities will be upheld," wrote Ortiz Wednesday afternoon on social media.

In conversations with a handful of individuals connected to – and with knowledge of – the case, the scenario of Ortiz being put on ice until the fall is unlikely.

The expectation within the Ortiz camp that includes his manager Rick Mirigian and attorney Gregory Smith is that Texas’ WBC interim 154lbs champion Ortiz would win in arbitration, where Nevada judge Cristina Silva sent the case Tuesday.

“I’d be shocked if it doesn’t settle out with such a big fight on the horizon, where everyone makes money,” boxing industry attorney Kurt Emhoff told BS Wednesday. “Generally, these cases all settle out when there’s incentive for both sides to get it done.”

Emhoff is not involved in the case, but he knows boxing history is littered with cases – including De La Hoya’s own separation from Top Rank/Bob Arum and Canelo Alvarez’s parting with De La Hoya – where legal precedent doesn’t intend to stop a fighter from earning purse money.

That would compel Golden Boy to strike a deal to bring Ortiz back to the ring, the Ortiz side reasons.

In its January 16 lawsuit against Golden Boy, Ortiz’s team presented four prongs it believes rise to the level of breaching the contract.

In a three-year extension that took effect in August 2024, Ortiz’s team contends the contract stipulates that at least one alternative to a fight offer should be pursued.

Upon Ortiz stopping Erickson Lubin in his native Texas in November, De La Hoya immediately let it be known that Ortiz was the clear “A-side” of the bout with recently unified welterweight champion Ennis, 35-0 (31 KOs), even though Ortiz has never worn a non-interim world-title strap.

De La Hoya proceeded to declare Ortiz deserved a 60-40 percentage split in his favor, with the bout’s winner collecting an extra 5%, subjecting Ennis, 28, to a 35% split in defeat.

Not surprisingly, that take-it-or-leave-it demand chilled fight talks with Ennis promoter Eddie Hearn.

The Ortiz side was left confused by the 60-40 purse split, with one asking, “Vergil gets 60% of what?” When a figure of $3 million for Ortiz was mentioned, his team was mystified, noting American champions Shakur Stevenson and Teofimo Lopez collected a reported $8 million apiece for their January 31 bout at Madison Square Garden.

Ortiz’s camp believes its active contract permits manager Mirigian to shop around for better deals, and a report last week stated Matchroom was willing to pay Ortiz $12 million to fight Ennis April 18 in what Hearn, as recently as this week, said was “the best American fight to be made.”

The Ortiz side fought to argue the December 31 end of Golden Boy’s union with streaming partner DAZN additionally allowed the fighter to split with De La Hoya’s company, but Nevada judge Silva didn’t see it that way after reviewing the Golden Boy-Ortiz contractual language.

The fact that Golden Boy remains in an exclusive “relationship” with DAZN connected to fights including a January card in Palm Springs, California, and an upcoming March 14 show in Anaheim, California, helped Silva point the matter to arbitration.

But Ortiz including language discouraging De La Hoya from souring relationships that could enrich the fighter is a rich point of contention.

Following De La Hoya’s string of harshly critical “Clapback Thursday” comments regarding the new Zuffa Boxing promotion headed by UFC CEO/President Dana White and backed by a $10 million annual investment by Saudi Arabia boxing financier Turki Alalshikh, the Saudi group Sela became uninterested in Ortiz-Ennis.

Although Alalshikh’s “Ring” fights were connected to De La Hoya fighter Ryan Garcia’s welterweight title win in Las Vegas on February 21, the silence toward Ortiz-Ennis is deafening, and the Ortiz side is convinced De La Hoya sabotaged his fighter through his unfiltered social-media posts.

Is it now impossible for Golden Boy to make fights with Alalshikh’s involvement? Does Alalshikh want to assist in an Ortiz split that would lead him to Zuffa Boxing?

The questions persist, along with two others: When will Ortiz fight again? When will he meet Ennis?

“I would expect them to get it done,” Emhoff said of Ortiz-Ennis. “Not by April, but this year.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Vergil Ortiz Breaks Silence, Says Time With Golden Boy Done

Vergil Ortiz has made his first public comments since a Nevada judge sent his legal battle with Golden Boy Promotions to arbitration, saying, "My time with Goldenboy is done."

Ortiz (24-0, 22 KOs) was seeking a bout against former unified welterweight champion Jaron Ennis on April 18 and attempting to make it without Golden Boy Promotions, his longtime promoter. However, Golden Boy's temporary restraining order that stops Ortiz from negotiating fights without the company's involvement was upheld.

The judge asked that the arbitrator help settle the matter by Sept. 2, which leaves Ortiz's immediate future up in the air.

“Although the judge didn’t see it our way and the fight is blocked for now, my team and I will be moving on to arbitration and to the court appeal,” Ortiz wrote on X. “My time with Goldenboy is done. I am confident that my right to move on to other opportunities will be upheld. As always, I’m in the gym staying ready - ANY 154 champion should do the same. It’s only a matter of time.”

Ortiz signed a three-year extension with Golden Boy in May 2024. He would become a promotional free agent if successful in arbitration. Otherwise, he would be contractually bound to Golden Boy until at least August of next year, per Yahoo Sports.

For Ortiz, 27, the legal setback is just the latest roadblock in his efforts to land a huge fight. He has long been viewed as one of boxing’s top talents at 147 pounds and then 154, but a multitude of different circumstances have prevented him from landing such a bout.

Ortiz, ranked No. 1 by The Ring at 154, last fought on Nov. 8, stopping Erickson Lubin in the second round. Ortiz and Ennis met in the ring after the fight, which set the stage for one of the best fights that could be made. Now, there's no telling when – or if – the bout will be made.

Ortiz filed a lawsuit against Golden Boy in January seeking to become a free agent, arguing that his contract was in breach as the promoter no longer held a media rights deal. Ortiz then negotiated a multi-fight deal with Matchroom Boxing, kicking off with a spring showdown against Ennis.

Those plans were in motion until Golden Boy was granted a temporary restraining order against Ortiz on February 13 that halted any talks with other promoters. The sides exchanged legal filings over the following weeks, while those involved hoped for resolution that would keep the Ennis fight on track.

Ortiz then took a heavy blow on Monday. Meanwhile, Golden Boy CEO Oscar De La Hoya was elated.

"Justice prevails," De La Hoya posted on social media Monday evening. He tagged Matchroom Boxing, Ortiz, and the fighter’s manager, Rick Mirigian.

[Ruthless-RKO]

‘The time to talk it out is done’: Oscar De La Hoya blames manager for ruining Vergil Ortiz’s career

Oscar De La Hoya insists he’ll never again work with Vergil Ortiz’s manager.

Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya is back on social media today for his latest Clapback Thursday series, and this time takes aim at manager Rick Mirigian, who represents Vergil Ortiz. De La Hoya makes it clear that Ortiz’s career has essentially been ruined by Mirigian’s advice, and says he has no intention of working with him whatsoever to settle their dispute which will likely keep Ortiz on the sidelines for a while to come.

“Everything has taken a trip to Shitsville for this snake of a human being [Rick Mirigian],” De La Hoya began. “Just a few weeks after a Nevada judge ruled to keep Vergil sidelined, we announced this week that Golden Boy extended our TV broadcast partnership with DAZN. Now that he knows, he’s f-cked.

“Micro-d-ck Rick is suddenly blowing me up and begging me to call him back and fix this [shows screenshots of messages]. Motherf-cker, you convinced my fighter to sue me to get out of his contract. Now Vergil’s career is f-cked because of your greedy terrible advice. The time to talk it out is done. You tried to burn me but ended up f-cking yourself and Vergil. Now all you have to show for it is nasty legal bills…I will never work with Rick Mirigian ever again, and fighters need to beware.”

De La Hoya would then sound off on the Muhammad Ali Act being on the chopping block in an effort to support TKO Group and Zuffa Boxing. You can watch his full segment in the video link above.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Vergil Ortiz Jnr, Golden Boy set for July 14 arbitration

Vergil Ortiz Jnr and Golden Boy Promotions are scheduled to begin their mediation process in Las Vegas on July 14, with the unbeaten junior-middleweight seeking to extricate himself from a once-tight connection with Oscar De La Hoya.

Amid opposing lawsuits – with Texas’ Ortiz 24-0 (22 KOs) claiming his earning-power for an anticipated showdown with Jaron “Boots” Ennis was diminished while Golden Boy argues Ortiz manager Rick Mirigian sought to move the fighter toward another promoter – the matter is on track for a resolution by September.

Nevada District Judge Cristina D. Silva last month sent the case to arbitration and issued an injunction forbidding WBC interim champion Ortiz, 27, from dealing with third parties until a resolution was struck.

According to documents revealed in Ortiz’s lawsuit, he could have earned a minimum $16 million to fight Philadelphia’s former unified welterweight champion Ennis 35-0 (31 KOs) while Golden Boy offered him $3 million.

Ennis personally attended Ortiz’s second-round knockout of Erickson Lubin in Fort Worth, Texas, in November, and the pair – who both fight on DAZN – were in talks to fight later this spring.

Those talks crumbled as the Ortiz-Golden Boy relationship deteriorated, and Ennis has since moved on to accept a WBO/WBA unified 154lbs title shot at unbeaten champion Xander Zayas June 27 at Barclays Center in New York.

The arbitration hearing is expected to be a three-day affair, with each side allowed to submit written closing statements by early August.

The arbitrator will then consider the arguments and issue a ruling to Judge Silva by early September, when she would likely confirm the ruling. Silva had requested the sides to conclude the process by September.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Oscar De La Hoya says he's working to 'patch things up' with Vergil Ortiz Jnr

With a July 14 arbitration date looming for unbeaten WBC interim junior-middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jnr and his promoter Oscar De La Hoya, an olive branch has been extended.

De La Hoya told reporters Friday that his team is in active conversations with Ortiz’s team to “patch things up” before the matter could ultimately be settled by a federal judge in Nevada.

Saying he’s compelled to “work things out,” and that “this has gone on long enough,” De La Hoya indicated he wants the opposing lawsuits between the sides to go away and work on getting Texas’ 28-year-old Ortiz, 24-0 (22 KOs), back in the ring.

A showdown versus the winner of the June 27 WBO/WBA title defense by Puerto Rico’s Xander Zayas and unbeaten former unified welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis would be ideal, De La Hoya said.

“If he wants to talk, I’d be happy to take the call or come sit with him,” Ortiz’s manager Rick Mirigian told Boxing Scene Friday.

It was the talks over an Ortiz fight with Ennis following Ortiz’s second-round knockout of Erickson Lubin in November that sparked the divide, with the Ortiz camp complaining that Golden Boy only offered him $3 million for the bout and declined to offer other opportunities.

Golden Boy countered that Mirigian was improperly shopping Ortiz to other promoters by claiming incorrectly that the promoter’s streaming deal with DAZN had expired.

Lost in the feuding was the future of Ortiz, who has performed so strongly in defeating Lubin, former 154lbs champion Israil Madrimov and former WBC interim champion Serhii Bohachuk in succession.

Mirigian said he’s been in contact for the past three weeks with Golden Boy President Eric Gomez while making other fights – including the May 22 main event in San Jose, California, for Amari Jones – and the topic of Ortiz has been raised.

“Productive talks. Not a remedy, but there is now an open line of communication,” Mirigian said. “If we end up talking to Oscar, I would welcome that.”

If the three-day arbitration occurs, the expectation is that a ruling on the matter – freeing Ortiz from Golden Boy or keeping him in the stable – would come down by September.

[Delta Jay]

Has De La Hoya ever just been sound to someone?

[SeanBrennan]

Has De La Hoya ever just been sound to someone?

I think he’s still friends with Hopkins so perhaps him?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Vergil Ortiz will fight this year with Golden Boy, says De La Hoya

Oscar De La Hoya says Vergil Ortiz Jr will be back this year with Golden Boy

Vergil Ortiz Jr has been on the sidelines for months now, thanks to a dispute with Golden Boy Promotions that derailed plans for a fight with Jaron “Boots” Ennis.

But promoter Oscar De La Hoya says there is light at the end of the tunnel, and that the two sides have been speaking and working to settle the issues.

“There’s nothing that makes me happier than to see fighters get in the ring and perform. Vergil Ortiz is one of the best fighters out there. I hate not seeing him fight,” De La Hoya said tonight during Golden Boy’s DAZN show.

“Do I want to resolve this? Absolutely, a thousand percent. Did they make a mistake? Did we make a mistake? No. There was a misunderstanding, everything is great. Eric Gomez is talking to Rick Mirigian and we’re making this happen.”

Oscar claims that it will be the “original deal” Golden Boy had with Ortiz, and that he does expect the 154 lb standout to fight this year.

“We have the original deal that was in place. Outside people try to ruffle things up, let’s say, but we have the contracts, we have the relationships, we have Vergil Ortiz. We’ve had him since he was a baby, since he started boxing professionally. We feel that we’re very close and Vergil Ortiz will fight this year.”

We’ll see what comes of this and if, perhaps, Ortiz or his team have a different account of the situation as it stands now. Hopefully everything does come together, though, because everyone wants to see Vergil fight.

Ortiz (24-0, 22 KO) last fought in November 2025, demolishing Erickson Lubin in two rounds, after which we got the face-to-face with Vergil and Boots Ennis, which in the end amounted to nothing for the time being.

[MPW]

So, in short, Ortiz wastes another year of his career and the lawsuit accomplishes - what? - nothing.