Oscar De La Hoya has issued a strong rebuttal regarding the lawsuit initiated by Vergil Ortiz Jr., firmly asserting that the undefeated super-welterweight is still bound by his contract with Golden Boy Promotions. He further accused Ortiz's management of orchestrating this legal dispute to create tension.
Ortiz’s legal action aims to free himself from his agreement with Golden Boy, a move that coincidentally followed a letter sent by the promotional company to his manager, Rick Mirigian. This letter demanded that Mirigian cease interfering with negotiations for a planned fight against Jaron Ennis.
De La Hoya emphasized that the timing of this lawsuit was too coincidental to ignore, indicating that Ortiz’s position appears to have changed significantly in recent weeks. In a video shared on his Instagram account, he stated, "This is the same Vergil who mentioned to Ring Magazine just two months ago that he was thrilled to be a part of Golden Boy. So what has changed since that time? Vergil’s new legal representation, which happens to be Canelo’s attorney—the very same individual who previously sued to extricate Canelo from his contract with Golden Boy—raises a lot of red flags. Does that seem suspicious to you?"
The founder of Golden Boy Promotions clarified that his intention was merely to negotiate a more favorable deal for Ortiz, revealing that he was advocating for a 60-40 financial split that would benefit Ortiz. He remarked, "I was simply trying to secure a better financial arrangement for my fighter. I truly believe he deserves it. Is that the reason you wish to terminate your contract? This situation only highlights your ulterior motives, Rick."
De La Hoya was adamant about protecting Ortiz from the fallout of this legal confrontation, asserting that both Ortiz and his father should not be caught up in the chaos caused by Mirigian's actions. He noted, "Vergil and his father are genuinely good people who shouldn’t find themselves entangled in Rick’s nonsense. Vergil just wants to step into the ring and fight."
Moreover, he dismissed any notions that this lawsuit could facilitate Ortiz's opportunity to compete elsewhere, warning that Golden Boy would vigorously defend its contractual rights. He stated, "In America, anyone can file a lawsuit without substantial grounds or evidence, often for appearance’s sake. However, Vergil Ortiz is not a free agent, and we will demonstrate that in court."
This situation raises intriguing questions about loyalty, management ethics, and the intricacies of sports contracts. What do you think? Should fighters feel free to switch promoters when they see fit, or do they have an obligation to honor their commitments?
