Ennis Vs Ortiz Moves Closer

Originally posted on BoxingNews.com | Last updated Feb 6, 2026 1:42 AM ET

A fight in the junior middleweight division is on the verge of being finalized as Jaron Ennis vs. Vergil Ortiz Jr. is close.

The fight gained momentum after Ennis dismantled Uisma Lima in a single round during his 154-pound debut in October, while Ortiz followed up in November with a KO of Erickson Lubin. The two fighters then shared a face-off inside the ring after Ortiz’s victory, verbally agreeing to meet in early 2026.

The path to the ring has been complicated by intense promotional friction. Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn revealed that while Ennis had readily signed a contract for an even 50-50 financial split, Ortiz’s team had not. The situation escalated when Oscar De La Hoya publicly demanded a 60-40 split in favor of Ortiz, with an additional 5 percent bonus for the winner.

Legal Issues

This rigid stance, combined with stalled negotiations, led Ortiz to file a federal lawsuit against De La Hoya, seeking to terminate his promotional agreement. Golden Boy Promotions responded, stating that Ortiz is still under contract.

“We are aware of the lawsuit. Unfortunately, Vergil is getting bad advice from his lawyer and manager who have repeatedly violated the contract. We will aggressively defend [against] this lawsuit and enforce our rights. We are confident a judge will agree that our contract is valid and Vergil and his team are in breach,” Golden Boy said

While the legal battle between Ortiz and Golden Boy Promotions plays out in the background, there is still a strong sense of optimism surrounding the matchup. Ennis remained confident that the deal will cross the finish line.

Ennis Reacts

However, if it does not, Ennis has other options available to him. He could pursue fights with the IBF Junior Middleweight Champion Josh Kelly or Xander Zayas, who is the WBO and WBA Unified Junior Middleweight Champion.

“I have high hopes. I think the fight is going to happen. Everyone stay tuned, and keep your fingers crossed. It’s not in my hands. I’m just waiting to see what’s going on. Hopefully they sign on the dotted line so we can make the fight happen. Everyone knows that I want it next. I want the champions and the big names. The 154-pound division is mine, and I’m ready to go through them, one by one. Bring on the biggest and best fights, and let’s make it happen. … My style gives everybody problems. It’s hard to train for me. I do everything,” Ennis stated

This article first appeared on BoxingNews.com and was syndicated with permission.

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