It was immediately clear after Vergil Ortiz’s last fight that his team wasn’t exactly enthusiastic about the idea of immediately putting him in with Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, which represents a highly anticipated fight that should be a no-brainer. While Boots’ promoter Eddie Hearn has continued to publicly call for that fight to be made , Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya now says they have options for Ortiz and he doesn’t need to take that fight next.
“I’ve been busy this week finalizing the Ryan Garcia vs (Mario) Barrios fight and details will be announced (today),” De La Hoya began. “I’m really excited to be working with PBC and Al Haymon. Look, we have a lot of great matchups to be made as the US top promoters. So I’m looking to keep the fights here in the US.
“In the meantime, Eddie Hearn is begging the media for this Boots and Vergil Ortiz fight. It’s so stupid as a promoter to pigeonhole your fighter into one opponent. You end up losing your negotiating power, which ends up being a lot of lost money for your fighter.
“Also, every time a manager tries to be a hero and negotiate behind the promoters back, they lose money for the fighter, and at the same time violate the Muhammad Ali act. And you know what? I’m going to start sending legal letters enforcing this because I’m f-ckin’ tired of it and I will be exposing them, trust me.
“Look, Vergil can fight two or three different guys in megafights. He’s got options. Imagine him with Errol Spence at Dallas Cowboy stadium, or Sebastian Fundora in a megafight in Vegas. Boots is part of the plan but it doesn’t have to be next. But Eddie, since you’re so desperate to make this fight then let’s do this: 60/40 for Vergil and 5% to the winner because I’m generous — and I’m not moving off those numbers. You’re the one who’s begging for this fight. So let’s go.”
De La Hoya would later post another message online where he gave Hearn one day to accept his proposal or says their side will be moving on.
