The likelihood of a fight between unbeaten junior middleweights Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Jaron "Boots" Ennis was dealt a blow when a Nevada judge ruled in favor of Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions and granted the company's motion to compel arbitration with Ortiz.
The ruling by Nevada District Judge Cristina Silva on Monday prevents Ortiz and his manager, Rick Mirigian, from negotiating with third parties for a fight with Ennis or any other fighter before the arbitration takes place.
"Justice prevails," De La Hoya posted on social media Monday after the ruling.
Silva asked that the arbitrator settle the dispute by September, though Ortiz said he hopes to resolve the matter sooner so he can compete.
"Although the judge didn't see it our way and the fight is blocked for now, my team and I will be moving on to arbitration and to the court appeal," Ortiz wrote in a post on X on Wednesday. "My time with Goldenboy is done. I am confident that my right to move on to other opportunities will be upheld. As always, I'm in the gym staying ready - ANY 154 champion should do the same. It's only a matter of time."
Golden Boy and Ortiz have been at odds over the past couple of months. When a deal to fight Ennis wasn't completed, Ortiz requested the termination of his promotional contract with Golden Boy and sued for breach of contract and "interference with [prospective] economic advantage."
Golden Boy responded with a temporary restraining order (TRO) in February to prevent Ortiz from pursuing a fight outside of the promotional outfit until further order from the court.
Ortiz filed an emergency motion Monday to dismiss the TRO, but Silva rejected the motion. Now, the two sides will head to arbitration to settle the matter, leaving the highly anticipated clash between Ortiz and Ennis in limbo.
Ortiz (24-0, 22 KOs) is the current WBC interim champion, while Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs) is the WBA interim champion.
