Vergil Ortiz Jnr, Golden Boy Near Three-Fight Settlement Including Ennis Fight

Vergil Ortiz Jnr and Golden Boy Promotions are nearing a settlement that would end their legal dispute and keep the unbeaten WBC interim junior-middleweight titleholder with the promoter for three more fights. Ortiz’s manager, Rick Mirigian, told Fight Freaks Unite that the sides have “reached a deal in principle”, a development that could revive efforts to make Ortiz against Jaron “Boots” Ennis before the end of the year.

A finalised agreement would close the litigation that has stalled Ortiz’s career since January and would also see Golden Boy drop its $10 million lawsuit against Mirigian. “We have reached a deal in principle,” Mirigian said. “We are awaiting signatures and then for Golden Boy to have a conversation with (broadcast partner DAZN about Ortiz’s next fight) and then go from there.”

Ortiz, 24-0 (22 KOs), sued Golden Boy in U.S. District Court in Nevada in mid-January, alleging breach of contract and interference with earnings. Golden Boy, led by Oscar De La Hoya, responded by pursuing its own action against Mirigian, claiming he interfered with the promoter’s contract and economic advantages tied to Ortiz.

The dispute had been sent to court-ordered arbitration, with a July 14 process scheduled in Las Vegas before the hearing was delayed until late September because of an arbitrator’s scheduling conflict. If the settlement is signed, that arbitration is unlikely to be needed, and the promotional barrier that blocked Ortiz from negotiating outside Golden Boy’s involvement would be removed.

Ennis fight back in play

The immediate consequence is the possible reopening of talks for Ortiz-Ennis, one of the most attractive fights at 154lbs. Mirigian told BoxingScene on Monday, “We have a pathway and foundational structure now if ‘Boots’ wants to go first,” and said of Ortiz’s position with Golden Boy, “We have a fair deal now laid out. Both sides made some concessions and talked through issues and [the] interpretation of things, and took care of things that were not there prior.”

Ortiz has not fought since stopping Erickson Lubin in the second round in Fort Worth, Texas, in November. Ennis was ringside that night and entered the ring afterwards, with the two DAZN fighters moving towards a spring fight before the Ortiz-Golden Boy relationship broke down.

Ortiz’s lawsuit claimed he could have earned at least $16 million to fight Ennis, while Golden Boy offered him $3 million. Those talks collapsed after Golden Boy obtained a temporary restraining order on February 13 that halted Ortiz from negotiating fights without the company’s involvement, and Nevada District Judge Cristina D. Silva later issued an injunction preventing Ortiz from dealing with third parties until the matter was resolved.

Ennis, 36-0 (32 KOs), moved on from the stalled Ortiz talks and stopped Xander Zayas in the sixth round on June 27 at Barclays Center in New York to win the WBO and WBA junior-middleweight titles.

How the dispute reached settlement talks

The settlement would mark a significant shift from Ortiz’s position after the court initially kept Golden Boy’s restrictions in place in March. Ortiz wrote on X at the time, “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,” adding, “My time with Goldenboy [sic] 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.” De La Hoya responded on social media with, “Justice prevails,” tagging Matchroom Boxing, Ortiz and Mirigian.

Golden Boy’s separate lawsuit in California accused Mirigian of sharing private details of Ortiz’s contractual position with rival promoters, including Zuffa, Canelo Promotions and Matchroom, and of undermining negotiations involving Ortiz, Ennis and DAZN. Ortiz, for his part, argued that Golden Boy’s media-rights situation with DAZN gave him grounds to leave, while Golden Boy maintained it retained exclusive negotiating rights over Ortiz’s boxing activities.

A completed deal would leave Ortiz tied to Golden Boy for Ennis and two further fights, if the Ennis bout is made first. Mirigian told BoxingScene that “Pending [DAZN] making some decisions, this could be done in 48 to 72 hours,” though he also said, “We have our arbitration date… and that’s not moving,” underlining that the legal track has not been formally abandoned until signatures are secured.

There are still competing routes at 154lbs. Mirigian said a resolution with Golden Boy could also allow the promoter to pursue a fight with WBC champion Sebastian Fundora, but Fundora’s promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, has said he intends to pursue Fundora against mandatory challenger Ermal Hadribeaj. Ennis has also expressed interest in unifications with Fundora or IBF champion Josh Kelly, though Mirigian said, “We all know what the best 154lbs fight to make is. Anything else is ducking and excuses.”

The next step is for the Ortiz-Golden Boy settlement to be signed and for Golden Boy to speak with DAZN about Ortiz’s next fight. If that happens, negotiations with Ennis for their long-awaited fight could finally resume.