Vergil Ortiz Jr-Keith Thurman being lined up for Benavidez card

Vergil Ortiz Jr could face former welterweight champion Keith Thurman on David Benavidez’s December card in Arizona, with Golden Boy Promotions working to finalise a deal.

Oscar De La Hoya, the Golden Boy chairman, confirmed that Thurman is the leading option for Ortiz, although an agreement has not been reached.

“There’s been rumors about Keith Thurman,” De La Hoya told The Ariel Helwani Show. “So, we’re finalizing that deal there, and hopefully we can have him on the Benavidez card in December.”

The event had been scheduled for December 12, with Benavidez expected to face WBC cruiserweight champion Michal Cieslak in a unification fight. That date is now expected to change following the announcement of Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua for December 11 in Cardiff, although a replacement date for the Arizona card has not been confirmed.

The DAZN event would bring together Benavidez and Ortiz, two of the most prominent fighters from the south-western United States. De La Hoya, speaking separately to Fight Hub TV, said discussions with Thurman were continuing.

“Yeah, that’s the talk. That’s the talk, to fight him on the Benavidez card, which would be awesome,” De La Hoya said. “Imagine Benavidez and Vergil Ortiz. I mean please, you’ll sell out any arena, easy. We’re working out things with Keith Thurman. It’s not the opponent yet because things are being worked out but we’re hoping that we can get Vergil’s career back on track.”

Ennis fight fell through

Thurman has emerged as an option after the proposed fight between Ortiz and Jaron “Boots” Ennis failed to materialise in April. Ennis has since turned his attention to Josh Kelly and the other titles at 154lbs, while WBC champion Sebastian Fundora is also set to take a different fight, according to De La Hoya.

“I wish it would’ve been the Boots fight,” De La Hoya said. “Boots is going to fight who, Kelly? Josh Kelly, is it? Then Fundora is going to fight somebody else. So, we had to keep Vergil busy and not idle and so Keith Thurman is one guy that’s always willing to fight the best, which is very cool.

“That is the plan but you never know what happens after that, so we’ll see.”

Ortiz’s absence has also been shaped by a contractual dispute with Golden Boy. After the promoter’s exclusive broadcast agreement with DAZN expired, Ortiz attempted to leave the company and declared that his “time with Golden Boy is done”. Golden Boy contested the move and obtained a court order preventing him from negotiating independently.

The two sides reached what they described as an amicable settlement in July and agreed to continue working together. De La Hoya has since promised to revive Ortiz’s career, telling Fight Hub: “I will get Vergil Ortiz’s career back on track. He will be world champion, mark my words.”

Contracted weight still to be settled

The weight for the proposed Thurman fight has not been confirmed. Ortiz’s team has discussed a move to middleweight after struggling to secure a major contest at 154lbs, with WBA champion Erislandy Lara and WBC title-holder Carlos Adames linked to possible fights.

Facing Thurman could instead keep Ortiz at junior middleweight. Thurman moved up to challenge Fundora for the WBC title in March but was stopped in the sixth round, while Ortiz holds the WBC interim belt and remains well placed in the division if he stays at 154lbs.

Remaining at junior middleweight would also preserve potential fights with Ennis and Fundora should those opportunities become available, rather than committing Ortiz to a move to 160lbs.

Golden Boy must still complete negotiations with Thurman and settle the contracted weight before Ortiz can be formally added to the Benavidez card. The event itself is also awaiting a new date after plans to stage it on December 12 were disrupted by the Fury-Joshua announcement.