There may be hope to salvage one of the most hotly anticipated matchups in the sport today.
Golden Boy Promotions and Vergil Ortiz Jnr remained embroiled in a bitter lawsuit that has not at all benefited either side. In particular, Ortiz’s targeted showdown with Jaron “Boots” Ennis remains on hold until a resolution is reached with his estranged promoter.
Ortiz is bound to a temporary restraining order (TRO) obtained by Golden Boy that prevents him from moving forward with the abovementioned clash without the company’s involvement. However, Golden Boy is now on record in a court of law in its willingness to help finalize terms for the battle of unbeaten junior middleweights.
“I make this declaration in support of Golden Boy’s Supplemental Brief Regarding Bond Amount in Support of its Emergency Motion for Temporary Restraining Order,” Eric Gomez, Golden Boy president, stated in a legal Supplemental Declaration obtained by BoxingScene. “Notwithstanding Golden Boy’s ongoing dispute with Plaintiff Vergil Ortiz, Jr. (“Ortiz”), Golden Boy remains ready and willing to represent Ortiz in negotiating for and promoting a bout between Ortiz and Jaron Ennis.
“Even after Golden Boy discovered that Ortiz’s manager, Rick Mirigian, was having direct communications with third parties regarding the fight, Golden Boy remained committed to its representation of Ortiz with respect to the fight.”
In the declaration, Gomez revealed that Golden Boy would guarantee Ortiz’s purse of $3 million plus any promotional upside.
Judge Cristina Silva, of the U.S. District Court in the District of Nevada, granted a ruling on February 13 in favor of Golden Boy’s filed TRO against Ortiz and manager Rick Mirigan. Ortiz’s side has until close of business on Tuesday, February 17 to file a motion of opposition, in which case Golden Boy would have to respond by no later than close of business on Wednesday, February 18.
A hearing between both parties is scheduled for Friday at the Las Vegas courthouse.
As first reported by Ring Magazine’s Mike Coppinger, streaming service DAZN has called for resolution on this very fight by Friday as well. DAZN plans to air the mouthwatering clash as part of its upper tier Ultimate service, in its pay-one-price commitment to airing monthly quality-level pay-per-view events without the extra cost.
If resolved, Ortiz-Ennis is expected to take place April 18 in Las Vegas.
More crucial to Golden Boy’s future is the company’s ability to renew its own output deal with DAZN. Golden Boy has dealt exclusively with the over-the-top platform since December 2018. However, their relationship has been rocky ever since Saul “Canelo” Alvarez left Golden Boy in 2020, after which each renegotiation period has become a contentious battle.
Golden Boy’s latest deal with DAZN expired this past December 31 – a point of contention mentioned in Ortiz’s lawsuit, which his side has argued is grounds to terminate their contract. Ortiz cited breach of contract and interference in his complaint, citing the erratic public behavior by Golden Boy chairman and Hall of Fame former six-division champion Oscar De La Hoya.
The argument on Ortiz’s side was that De La Hoya’s actions – largely through his viral “Clapback Thursdays” segment posted weekly on his social media channels – have caused irreparable harm in the ability to finalize terms with Ennis.
It was recently learned by Golden Boy staff, however, that Ortiz’s side was negotiating on their own and appeared dangerously close to getting the fight over the line. Attorneys for Golden Boy then filed the TRO request, to prevent an announcement that wouldn’t include the company in the fight promotion.
“In early January 2026, I exchanged emails with Ortiz’s manager, Rick Mirigian, articulating Golden Boy’s negotiation position,” noted Gomez, in submitted written proof, according to court records. “Also in early January, Golden Boy’s counsel, Ricardo P. Cestero, sent a letter to Ortiz’s counsel, Gregory M. Smith, confirming that Golden Boy offered Ortiz a $3m guarantee plus upside for the Ennis fight.
“ECF No. 1, Ex. C. I declare under penalty of perjury under that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed this 14th day of February 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.”
The ability to move forward with this fight would also provide Golden Boy with the room to secure another deal with DAZN, for at least the next two years. More germane to its roster of fighters in limbo, it would also immediately put fight dates back on the calendar.
As previously reported by BoxingScene, an attractive March 14 card is currently in limbo and likely to be scrapped absent immediate resolution to the aforementioned. Among the planned bouts for the show:
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Oscar Collazo-Melvin Jerusalem rematch for the lineal, RING and unified WBA, WBC and WBO strawweight championship
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Undisputed flyweight champion and 2024 Fighter of the Year Gabriela Fundora in a mandatory title defense versus Viviana Ruiz
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A compelling crossroads bout between Arnold Barboza and Kenneth Sims.
There are also plans for Floyd Schofield to fight for the vacant WBA lightweight title, likely versus Lucas Bahdi. The targeted date is – or at least was – April 11 on DAZN.
All of that remains in the balance while the one fight that nobody wants to see – the ongoing battle between Golden Boy and Ortiz – remains unresolved. Suffice to say, there is plenty of motivation for all involved parties to find common ground sooner rather than later.
