Oscar De La Hoya has hit back strongly at a lawsuit filed on behalf of Vergil Ortiz Jr, insisting the unbeaten super-welterweight remains under contract with Golden Boy Promotions and accusing Ortiz’s management of engineering the dispute.
Ortiz has taken legal action in an attempt to exit his deal with Golden Boy, a move that came just one day after the promotional company sent a legal letter to his manager Rick Mirigian, demanding he stop interfering in negotiations for a proposed fight with Jaron Ennis.
De La Hoya claimed the timing of the lawsuit was no coincidence and suggested Ortiz’s stance had dramatically changed in recent weeks. Speaking in a video published on his Instagram account, De La Hoya said:
“This is the same Vergil who told Ring Magazine two months ago that he couldn’t be happier at Golden Boy. So what happened since then? Vergil’s team hired a new attorney who is also Canelo’s attorney – the same guy who sued to get Canelo out of his Golden Boy contract. Does that sound fishy to you?”
The Golden Boy founder said he was simply attempting to secure a better deal for his fighter, revealing he was pushing for a 60-40 split in Ortiz’s favour.
“I was just trying to make more money for my fighter. I believe he deserves it. And that’s the reason why you want out of your contract? It just proves your agenda, Rick.”
De La Hoya was keen to separate Ortiz from the dispute, insisting both the fighter and his father had been dragged into the situation.
“Vergil and his father are really nice people who don’t deserve to be in the middle of Rick’s b******. Vergil just wants to fight.”
He also dismissed suggestions the lawsuit could pave the way for Ortiz to box elsewhere, warning that Golden Boy would defend its position aggressively.
“Anyone can file a lawsuit in America without basis or facts, simply for the optics. But Vergil Ortiz is not a free agent. And we will prove that.”
