Vergil Ortiz Jr. Challenges Golden Boy After Ennis Combat Cease

Ortiz filed opposition in Nevada seeking to remove the restriction and move forward with outside offers, including a major financial package from Matchroom Boxing.

According to court records reviewed by Sports Illustrated, Ortiz’s legal team argues that Golden Boy failed to honor key terms of his promotional agreement by attempting to pressure him into accepting the Ennis fight without presenting alternative opponents. Ortiz’s manager, Rick Mirigian, said Golden Boy warned that Ortiz would be benched if he declined the bout, while not offering the three opponent choices required under the contract.

Golden Boy moves to stop Ortiz from leaving

The situation intensified after Ortiz received major offers from rival promoters. Matchroom Boxing proposed a three-fight agreement that included an April 18 fight against Ennis, guaranteeing Ortiz $12 million with potential earnings rising to $20 million. Another promoter presented a separate offer worth a guaranteed $16 million, with additional income tied to ticket and pay-per-view performance.

Golden Boy then moved to stop Ortiz from leaving, securing a restraining order that keeps him tied to the company for now. That move blocks Ortiz from accepting the Matchroom deal and delays a fight that would have been one of the biggest welterweight matchups of the year.

Ortiz remains undefeated and is widely viewed as one of the division’s most dangerous contenders, but the dispute now puts his activity on hold. Until the situation is resolved, he cannot move forward with the Ennis fight or finalize a new agreement elsewhere, leaving his return to the ring dependent on the outcome of the standoff between fighter and promoter.