Ortiz camp claims control is blocking Ennis fight

Mirigian said he was never presented with a proper frame beyond single digits, which he described as being well below the level expected for a fight between two undefeated contenders in their 20s. He added that a counter-offer was submitted late last year and rejected without discussion.

As part of Ortiz’s deal with Golden Boy Promotions, Mirigian said the fighter was supposed to have three opponent options before a fight was finalized. According to Mirigian, Ennis was the only name proposed. No alternative followed. The numbers have never changed.

This context is important because Jaron Ennis is not a routine defense or a tune-up. Ortiz holds the WBC interim title at 154 pounds and has been positioned as one of the division’s future mainstays. Ennis arrives as a recent unified welterweight champion with a solid reputation and leverage of his own. Treating combat as a take-it-or-leave-it proposition was always going to lead here.

Golden Boy president Oscar De La Hoya said Monday he was leaving after Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn failed to respond by informal deadline. Mirigian said deadlines mean nothing when the other party has not been directly engaged.

He also disputed claims that a 55 to 45 percent split was ever agreed to in writing. Mirigian said his counteroffer was intentionally simple. A fixed guarantee for Ortiz. Let the remaining parties share the gains as they see fit.

Other names have been released publicly while the replacements only highlight the problem. Sebastian Fundora is linked to a planned defense. Errol Spence Jnr hasn’t fought since mid-2023. None of this explains why the most competitive fight available at 154lbs stopped at the opening numbers stage.

The overall economic situation only adds to the tension. The future of Golden Boy’s broadcast is unclear beyond the next few weeks. Several shows are scheduled without clear long-term support. Against this backdrop, risking friction with Ortiz over a premium fight has left many observers confused.

Mirigian’s position remains unchanged. Ortiz wants the fight. His team is open to discussions. The phone, he said, did not ring.

At this point, the obstacle is not willpower. It’s control.