Oscar De La Hoya and clapback Thursdays have returned, and the Golden Boy has vowed to never work with Vergil Ortiz Jr again.
In a week where Golden Boy Promotions have announced a multi-year extension with DAZN, it really seems Oscar De La Hoya has got the last laugh.
Jaron Ennis vs Vergil Ortiz Jr was a standout fixture for the 2026 American boxing calendar.
The two fighters are widely regarded as number one and two at 154lbs.
Jaron Ennis (35-0, 31ko’s), a unified welterweight champion, moved up to 154lbs in 2025.
Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing are in his corner.
He headlined the Wells Fargo Center in his hometown of Philadelphia for the third time in his first fight at 154, defeating Uisma Lima (15-2, 10ko’s) in the first round.
Hearn has widely claimed Ennis will become America’s next superstar, and this Ortiz Jr fight would have been the perfect next step.
On the other side of the ring, Team Ortiz Jr is where the chaos has been situated.
Signed to Golden Boy Promotions, Vergil Ortiz Jr (24-0, 22ko’s) has undoubtedly tried his hardest to make this fight happen.
With his promoter Oscar De La Hoya having contractual issues with DAZN, Ortiz Jr has attempted to relieve himself of his promotional contract, in order to sign a deal with Matchroom Boxing directly.
This turned legal, with Ortiz Jr seeking the opportunity to become a free agent.
The court of arbitration declared that “Ortiz may not negotiate or contract with third parties for future fights before the arbitrator addresses the parties’ dispute set forth in this action,”.
Jaron Ennis vs Vergil Ortiz Jr was and still is a fight that the public are desperate for.
In De La Hoya’s words, Ortiz is ‘sidelined’.
Clapback Thursday returned yesterday, and De La Hoya didn’t hold back when talking about Ortiz Jr’s manager Rick Mirigian.
The Golden Boy stated: “Rick Mirigian, the worst manager in boxing”.
“Everything has taken a trip to sh*tsville for this snake of a human being”.
“Now he’s begging me to call him back”.
“You convinced my fighter to sue me”.
“Now Vergil’s career is f*cked, because of your terrible advice”.
“The time to talk it out has done”.
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