The undefeated boxer Vergil Ortiz Jr. has reached an agreement with Golden Boy Promotions, paving the way for a possible unified fight against Jaron 'Boots' Ennis at super welterweight.
The American boxer Vergil Ortiz Jr. is back in the ring after resolving his legal differences with Golden Boy Promotions. The agreement reached last Friday ends a dispute that kept the Texan fighter inactive during the first half of 2026. Now, his team has a clear target: Jaron 'Boots' Ennis, the current unified champion at 154 pounds.
An Agreement That Clears the Way
The conflict began when Vergil Ortiz Jr. filed a lawsuit in Nevada to terminate his contract with Golden Boy Promotions, the company owned by Oscar de la Hoya. The promoter obtained a temporary restraining order on February 13 to prevent the boxer from fighting without their authorization. After months of tension, both parties reached a friendly agreement that avoided arbitration and civil lawsuits.
In the official statement, Ortiz Jr. said:
“I am very grateful that Golden Boy and I have reached an agreement and resolved everything. I am excited to move forward and secure the most important fights, including the one with Ennis. My only goal is to provide fans with unforgettable fights.”The pact allows the boxer to resume his career without contractual restrictions.
The Challenge of Facing 'Boots' Ennis
The fight against Jaron Ennis would be a high-calibre clash. Ennis unified the WBA and WBO titles by knocking out Xander Zayas on June 27, establishing himself as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters. However, negotiations will not be straightforward. The president of Matchroom Boxing, Eddie Hearn, explained that Ennis's priority is absolute unification against Sebastian Fundora.
“We want to fight Vergil Ortiz, but Boots is very clear that he wants to become the undisputed champion,” Hearn told Chris Mannix during the DAZN broadcast. “Josh Kelly fights next week in Jeddah; it would be a tremendous unification, but Boots's first option right now is Sebastian Fundora.” This statement suggests that the path to the fight may require patience from Ortiz Jr.
For boxing fans, this potential matchup represents an opportunity to see two of the best punchers in the division face off in the ring. Vergil Ortiz Jr. maintains an undefeated record with a high knockout percentage, while Ennis has proven to be a lethal finisher. If it materialises, the fight would be a headline event for the end of 2026 or the beginning of 2027.
For now, Ortiz Jr.'s team will have to wait for Ennis to define his next steps. In the meantime, the Texan boxer is preparing to stay active and not lose momentum. The resolution of his legal conflict gives him the freedom to negotiate and closes a chapter that threatened to derail his career. The next move will depend on the negotiation tables and the willingness of the champions to unify titles.
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