“Over the last week, we’ve had multiple conversations with Golden Boy. Yet Vergil tweets, ‘I don’t know anything about it.’ It doesn’t make sense,” Hearn said to KGTV while addressing the situation publicly.
Hearn indicated that while conversations are continuing, he is wary of allowing negotiations to drag on without tangible movement. He said the goal is to avoid prolonged discussions that ultimately lead nowhere, particularly given the scale of the fight.
In Hearn’s view, Ortiz vs. Ennis is a major matchup with significant upside, one he believes stands alongside other high-profile bouts currently being discussed at the top level of the sport. That belief is also shared by broadcast partner DAZN, which Hearn said is applying strong pressure on both promotional sides to get the deal over the line.
Despite that, Hearn offered a more cautious outlook when asked about the likelihood of the fight being finalized. He described the chances as “better than 50–50,” a figure that still reflects notable uncertainty given the time already spent in talks.
The lack of clarity has been present for months. Following Ortiz’s win over Erickson Lubin last November, the WBC interim junior middleweight champion publicly mentioned Errol Spence as a preferred opponent, calling it a “dream fight.” His trainer, Robert Garcia, has also floated alternative options within the division, adding to questions about Ortiz’s immediate plans.
“I believe Oscar and those guys want to make the best fights, like we do,” Hearn said, referring to Oscar De La Hoya. “We’re talking, but we need some progression, and we need to lock in this date.”
