Oscar De La Hoya Faces New Legal Battle with Unbeaten Champion Vergil Ortiz Jr
Oscar De La Hoya finds himself in another high-profile dispute with one of his fighters. The Golden Boy Promotions boss recently clashed publicly with Ryan Garcia. Now, he faces tension with unbeaten interim light middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr.
Failed Negotiations Lead to Legal Action
The conflict centers on collapsed talks for a much-anticipated fight against Jaron "Boots" Ennis. As negotiations failed, legal action quickly followed. Ortiz Jr has filed a lawsuit against Golden Boy Promotions. He accuses the company of breaching their contract.
The situation escalated after De La Hoya sent a legal notice to Ortiz's management. He objected to their independent negotiation of the fight. Deadlines were missed during this process. DAZN expressed growing unhappiness with the situation. Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing could not close the deal either.
De La Hoya Stresses Loyalty Amid Dispute
As the legal battle unfolds, Oscar De La Hoya took to social media to share his views. He emphasized loyalty and trust in a fighter's career. Drawing from his own experience, he reminded fighters that careers are short. He stated that focus remains vital for success.
On his Instagram story, De La Hoya wrote that fighters must stay loyal. They should trust guidance from those who have walked the same path. He added that he sees himself as someone who has lived that life. His goal is to protect fighters from making costly mistakes.
De La Hoya later expanded on the emotional side of promotion. He explained that his biggest satisfaction comes from building strong bonds with fighters. He values feeling that trust is returned in those relationships.
Ortiz Seeks Exit from Golden Boy Deal
Vergil Ortiz Jr has been with Golden Boy since turning professional in 2016. Now he wants to exit the deal. Ortiz claims interference with his expected earnings from the Jaron "Boots" Ennis fight.
According to Ortiz's legal team, uncertainty over Golden Boy's agreement with DAZN gives him the right to seek separation. They argue this contractual ambiguity supports their case.
De La Hoya Defends His Actions
De La Hoya insists his intentions were misunderstood throughout this process. He said he was only pushing for better money for Ortiz. He explained that he demanded a 60-40 purse split in Ortiz's favor. He also requested a small bonus for the winner.
De La Hoya felt his fighter had earned these favorable terms. When Matchroom failed to meet the deadline, Ortiz's manager reportedly stepped in to negotiate directly. That move triggered De La Hoya's legal response.
Golden Boy Vows to Contest Lawsuit
Golden Boy Promotions has stated it will strongly contest the lawsuit. The company maintains the contract with Ortiz remains valid. They claim Ortiz and his team violated its terms through their actions.
This conflict has turned into a major promotional standoff in the boxing world. Both sides appear prepared for a lengthy legal battle over contractual obligations and fighter promotion rights.
