Several sources indicate that super welterweight rival Vergil Ortiz Jr has initiated legal action against Golden Boy Promotions, aiming for the cancellation of their “Professional Rights Agreement” along with compensatory damages for “multiple violations of the PRA and GBP’s financial interference with its future business opportunities.”
Recent reports have surfaced suggesting that GBP’s alliance with DAZN came to an end “almost three months ago,” with the Raul Curiel vs Jordan Panthen event tonight being treated as a “standalone.” According to a copy of the lawsuit acquired by Dan Rafael, “the PRA permitted Ortiz to cancel it if, for any reason, GBP’s agreement with its long-term partner, DAZN, concluded.” GBP contended that “since it was in the process of negotiating a new DAZN deal, Ortiz was not authorized to void the PRA.”
According to Lance Pugmire, Ortiz has engaged attorney Gregory Smith, the same legal representative who managed Canelo Alvarez’s efforts to depart from Oscar De La Hoya’s guidance. Smith claims that De La Hoya’s conduct breaches the terms of the PRA, specifically highlighting his ongoing disputes with Turki Alalshikh, his covert negotiations for a potential Jaron Ennis matchup with Matchroom and DAZN, and a range of “intentional, malicious, oppressive and despicable actions.”
I am not a legal specialist, but the entire notion of “the agreement lapsed three months ago yet it still holds because we’re in talks for a new one” seems like a tough position to defend on its own. It would also be quite amusing if Ortiz were granted damages, as that would officially categorize De La Hoya as an incompetent fool in the eyes of the law.
