The fallout between Golden Boy Promotions and Vergil Ortiz Jnr has already impacted the company’s roster.
BoxingScene has learned that plans for a rematch between Oscar Collazo and Melvin Jerusalem are now on hold. The battle of the two best strawweights on the planet was previously on course to headline a March 14 DAZN show from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
However, Golden Boy’s current dispute with Ortiz and his team has impacted the company’s ability to renegotiate an output deal with DAZN. The conflict has put all of its targeted dates on hold, until the issue between promoter and boxer is resolved – and, more importantly to DAZN, plans proceed for a desired showdown between Ortiz and Jaron “Boots” Ennis.
The latter was nearly agreed to but is now also on hold after Golden Boy was awarded a temporary restraining order (TRO) preventing Ortiz from moving forward with the fight – or any other – without its involvement. The matter is now due to appear before a Nevada court on February 20, with Ortiz’s team granted a deadline of February 17 to oppose the motion, and for Golden Boy to respond by no later than February 18.
DAZN’s previous desire to resume its seven-plus year relationship with Golden Boy hinged on the company’s ability to deliver Ortiz-Ennis. Those plans were compromised when Golden Boy representatives learned that Ortiz’s team was negotiating the fight without their involvement, at which point a Nevada judge granted the company’s TRO request.
Meanwhile, the belief – at least on the Jerusalem side – is that the strawweight championship rematch is more likely to take place in June or July. The planned March 14 show was also to include undisputed flyweight champion Gabriela Fundora in a mandatory title defense against Viviana Ruiz, and a 140lbs crossroads bout between Arnold Barboza and Kenneth Sims Jnr.
The development represents the uglier side of the sport, especially in a rematch where both sides came to terms after nearly two years of circling one another at the top level.
Puerto Rico’s Collazo, 13-0 (10 KOs), is the recognized lineal, Ring and unified WBA/WBO 105lbs champion, while the Philippines’ Jerusalem, 25-3 (12 KOs), holds the WBC title.
Collazo’s title run began with a May 2023 stoppage win over Jerusalem to claim the WBO belt. He has made six successful defenses since then, including a November 2024 knockout of then-unbeaten and long-reigning WBA titlist Thammanoon Niyomtrong in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
All but one of Collazo’s seven major title fights have ended inside the distance.
The win over Niyomtrong crowned the first-ever Ring strawweight king and re-established championship lineage at the weight after more than 25 years. The most recent recognized lineal champ at 105lbs was Ricardo Lopez, who abandoned his reign after his November 1998 rematch win over Rosendo Alvarez; the Ring title was not yet back in circulation at the time.
While Collazo has been on a tear since his first title win, Jerusalem quickly made his way back into the picture and has emerged as his top threat.
“El Gringo” Jerusalem is riding a current five-fight win streak, including two victories over Yudai Shigeoka in Japan. He defeated Shigeoka for the first time in March 2024, less than a year after his first meeting with Collazo and when Shigeoka was the undefeated WBC 105lbs titlist. Jerusalem has successfully defended the title three times, including a repeat victory over Shigeoka last March 30 in Tokoname.
In his most recent defense, Jerusalem outpointed South Africa’s Siyakholwa Kuse over 12 rounds atop the “Thrilla in Manila” 50th anniversary show last October 29 in Quezon City, Philippines.
Collazo has not fought since a stoppage win over Jayson Vayson last September 20 at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California – his first fight back at the venue since his win over Jerusalem. The 29-year-old southpaw Collazo was joined on the card by Fundora in an undisputed championship defense, and the dynamic duo were on course for their second consecutive double feature.
Sadly, both of their careers are currently on hold until Golden Boy can sort out its differences with Ortiz – legally or otherwise – and resume filling up its boxing calendar with DAZN.
