“We’re just waiting. It’s extremely frustrating. We can’t understand it. We agreed to a deal with Golden Boy. I believe Golden Boy and Oscar [De La Hoya] want that fight,” Hearn told the media.
Hearn said there are limited alternatives for WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. and questioned what other options remain available.
“‘Boots’ is signed for the fight. Ortiz, I just can’t understand what’s happening. Who else is there for Ortiz to fight?” Hearn said.
Hearn ruled out a fight between Ortiz and former unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr., noting Spence has not boxed in two years.
“Errol Spence isn’t going to take the fight next, and Errol Spence hasn’t boxed in two years,” Hearn said.
Spence, 35, has not fought since his knockout loss to Terence Crawford in July 2023.
Hearn called Ennis vs. Ortiz the top matchup in the division and said he hopes Ortiz moves forward with the fight.
“We hope that Vergil Ortiz wants the challenge and wants to prove he’s the best in the world. That’s the number one and number two at 154 pounds, in my opinion. So let’s make it happen,” Hearn said.
Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya previously suggested negotiations could become difficult following Ortiz’s knockout win over Erickson Lubin in November.
“If we don’t get favorable negotiations, we can always go to Errol Spence Jr. or Sebastian Fundora,” De La Hoya said at the post-fight press conference. “Vergil Ortiz is the man. He holds all the cards.”
