Vergil Ortiz’s team has swiftly moved to deny reports that they are headed into an early 2026 fight with Jaron Ennis.
“Boots” Ennis’ promoter Eddie Hearn yesterday told several outlets that Ennis had signed with them to fight Ortiz, and while “Boots” is expected out once again before the start of the year, in October, Team Ortiz are either holding out for top dollar, or are not on board with a fight with Ennis in the first quarter of 2026 just yet.
“The plan is for Boots to fight in October, Vergil to fight in October, and then they’re straight in,” Hearn told The Ring. “We have signed for that fight.”
Ortiz’s father quickly shutdown the Ennis-Ortiz speculation, while Ortiz’s manager Rick Mirigian took to social media and said: Fake news! Vergil Ortiz is not fighting Boots at all in January or any time soon. We have NO OFFER, we said yes three times prior and he backed out. Every circus needs a clown and sorry we are not in this circus. Boots needs Vergil, Vergil needs no one let alone these childish games, you want to make a fight, stop the fake negotiations and drama as I have not been contacted once and if you think a deal is being made between promoters with out [sic] me then your [sic] clearly cracked out… No one tells us who to fight or will period or ever let alone another company or another fighter, we will mutually come to an agreement or we will go in another direction faster than you can blink. So unless I post it or Vergil Ortiz or Vergil Ortiz Sr consider it all caps [lies]. We are close to a deal with a name far bigger than Boots will ever be and if it falls apart, trust me the world will know.”
Ennis has vacated his welterweight titles and is looking for a junior middleweight bout
Promoter Hearn, who signed Ennis to a “long-term” deal with Matchroom in July, has named several potential opponents for Ennis this year. Josh Kelly has said an offer made to him was “derisory” and Uisma Lima and Charles Conwell are also said to be in the frame.
