Bold opening: The high-stakes Ortiz-Ennis bout hangs in the balance, but Golden Boy says it’s still willing to help seal the deal.
Golden Boy Promotions and Vergil Ortiz Jr. remain locked in a protracted lawsuit that has done little good for either side. The most anticipated matchup on their calendar—the Ortiz vs. Jaron “Boots” Ennis showdown—stays on ice until the dispute with Ortiz’s promoter is resolved.
Ortiz is tied to a temporary restraining order (TRO) Golden Boy obtained, which blocks him from pursuing the Ennis clash without the promoter’s involvement. Yet Golden Boy has now gone on record in court, expressing a continued readiness to assist Ortiz in negotiating and promoting the fight against Ennis.
In a supplemental declaration, Golden Boy president Eric Gomez stated that, despite the ongoing feud with Ortiz, Golden Boy remains prepared to represent Ortiz in arranging and promoting the bout with Ennis. He also noted that Golden Boy discovered Ortiz’s manager, Rick Mirigan, was speaking directly with third parties about the fight, yet Golden Boy stayed committed to representing Ortiz for this matchup.
Gomez further revealed that Golden Boy would guarantee Ortiz a purse of $3 million, plus any promotional upside.
A Nevada federal judge, Judge Cristina Silva, granted Golden Boy’s TRO against Ortiz and Mirigan on February 13. Ortiz’s side has until close of business on February 17 to file any opposition, with Golden Boy required to respond by February 18. A hearing is set for Friday at the Las Vegas courthouse.
DAZN, the streaming service, has urged a resolution by Friday for the fight. DAZN plans to air the bout on its Ultimate service, a pay-one-price option for monthly, high-quality boxing events.
If the matter is resolved, Ortiz vs. Ennis is slated for April 18 in Las Vegas.
Beyond the immediate bout, the resolution matters deeply for Golden Boy’s business, including renewal of its output deal with DAZN. Golden Boy has partnered exclusively with DAZN since December 2018, but their relationship has endured tensions since Canelo Álvarez’s departure in 2020, with renegotiations proving contentious.
DAZN’s latest deal reportedly expired December 31, a point Ortiz’s team cites as grounds to terminate the contract, citing breach and interference. They argue Oscar De La Hoya’s public, combative social-media persona has harmed the ability to finalize terms with Ennis.
However, Golden Boy’s camp learned that Ortiz’s side was negotiating independently and moving dangerously close to a deal. Golden Boy’s TRO request was aimed at preventing an announcement without the promoter’s involvement.
Gomez’s court filings include emails from early January showing Golden Boy articulating its negotiating stance to Ortiz’s manager, and a letter from Golden Boy’s counsel confirming a $3 million guarantee plus upside for the Ennis fight.
The fight’s outcome would also clear the way for Golden Boy to secure a renewed DAZN arrangement for at least two more years, and it would restore fight dates currently in limbo, including a March 14 card with planned bouts such as the Oscar Collazo–Melvin Jerusalem rematch, Gabriela Fundora’s mandatory title defense against Viviana Ruiz, and a notable Barboza–Sims crossroads bout. Floyd Schofield was also targeted for a vacant WBA lightweight title bout, potentially against Lucas Bahdi, with an April 11 date on DAZN.
All of this remains in flux while the core dispute between Golden Boy and Ortiz continues. Still, there is clear motivation for all sides to reach a settlement soon.
Source note: Jake Donovan, an acclaimed boxing journalist, previously served as BoxingScene’s senior writer and The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him for updates on X and Instagram.
Would you like this rewrite to lean more toward a neutral report or a more opinionated, debate-ready piece with explicit pro/con arguments and questions for readers? And should I tighten or expand any specific sections (such as the business implications with DAZN or details of the TRO) for your target audience?
