Undefeated boxing champion Vergil Ortiz Jr has launched a federal lawsuit against his long-time promoter, Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, in a dramatic move to sever their contract. The legal action centres on a stalled super-fight against fellow interim titleholder Jaron 'Boots' Ennis and a dispute over a key broadcast agreement.
Contractual Clash Over DAZN Deal
The core of the dispute lies in a termination clause within Ortiz's promotional contract. The 27-year-old Texan, the unbeaten World Boxing Council interim junior middleweight champion, filed the complaint on Thursday in a US district court in Nevada. His legal team argues that his three-year deal, signed in May 2024, allowed him to walk away if Golden Boy's broadcast partnership with streaming service DAZN ended.
Ortiz contends this condition was triggered when the promoter's deal with DAZN expired on 31 December 2024. He formally exercised his right to terminate the agreement on 8 January 2025. Golden Boy acknowledges the DAZN deal concluded but maintains Ortiz remains under contract because they are actively negotiating a renewal for 2026 and 2027. Ortiz's lawsuit counters that ongoing talks do not constitute a binding agreement, stating the contract required a completed deal, not merely "an agreement to agree."
Allegations of Bad Faith Over Ennis Bout
Beyond the termination clause, the lawsuit makes serious allegations about Golden Boy's conduct in securing a career-defining fight. Ortiz claims he instructed Golden Boy to negotiate with Jaron Ennis's promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, but that Golden Boy failed to act in good faith.
The complaint suggests Oscar De La Hoya's strained relationships with rival promoters and influential Saudi boxing figure Turki al-Sheikh undermined opportunities to stage the lucrative fight, especially given Saudi Arabia's major role in financing marquee boxing events. Ortiz and Ennis, both holding interim titles at 154lbs, are seen as a natural matchup to determine an undisputed champion.
Furthermore, Ortiz alleges Golden Boy violated a contractual obligation to present him with at least three opponent options for each bout. Instead, he claims he was given only a single proposal for Ennis and threatened with being sidelined if he declined. The lawsuit also accuses Golden Boy of failing to disclose written documents from meetings involving Golden Boy, Matchroom, and DAZN concerning the Ennis fight.
Consequences and Industry Fallout
Following Ortiz's termination attempt, the complaint alleges Golden Boy continued to publicly assert control over his career, setting unauthorised negotiation terms and deadlines. Ortiz argues this has created confusion within the boxing industry and interfered with his ability to negotiate independently with other promoters, damaging his prime earning years.
He is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, alleging Golden Boy's conduct cost him millions in lost fight purses, sponsorships, and related earnings. In a statement, Golden Boy disputed the claims, saying, "We are aware of the lawsuit. Unfortunately, Vergil is getting bad advice... We will aggressively defend this lawsuit and enforce our rights."
This lawsuit places Ortiz in a growing line of elite fighters, including Canelo Álvarez, who have taken Golden Boy to court over contractual disputes. Notably, Ortiz's attorney, Gregory Smith, previously represented Álvarez in his successful exit from a promotional deal with De La Hoya's company.
