De La Hoya Sets Terms as Ortiz–Ennis Talks Stall

Oscar De La Hoya escalated public negotiations this week over a potential fight between Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Jaron “Boots” Ennis, using social media to criticise Matchroom Boxing and set firm financial terms for any agreement.

In an Instagram post, the Golden Boy Promotions head accused Eddie Hearn of “begging” for the fight and said Matchroom had weakened its position by focusing too narrowly on Ennis facing Ortiz. De La Hoya said any deal would require a sixty forty purse split in Ortiz’s favour, along with a five percent bonus to the winner.

The comments come amid uneven progress in talks that briefly appeared close to resolution late last year. Ortiz’s November knockout of Erickson Lubin increased interest in a meeting with Ennis, who was seated ringside for the bout and later faced Ortiz in the ring. Since then, discussions have continued without an agreement, with money and control remaining key issues.

De La Hoya used the post to underline that Ortiz has other options. He referenced potential fights with Errol Spence Jr. in Dallas and Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas, pointing to larger venues and established markets as alternatives should negotiations with Matchroom fail to move forward. The message was that Ortiz is available but not dependent on one opponent.

The proposed purse split has drawn scrutiny, with many observers viewing the matchup as competitive on paper. Ennis enters the discussion as a former unified welterweight champion moving up in weight, while Ortiz is coming off one of the most visible wins of his career. Broadcaster interest has also played a role, with DAZN previously reported to be supportive of making the fight.

Despite the confrontational language, De La Hoya did not rule out Ennis as the next opponent. He said Ennis remains part of Ortiz’s plans and outlined terms he would accept, suggesting that talks could continue if Matchroom is willing to adjust its position.

Public exchanges between promoters are common during high level negotiations, particularly when financial structure and billing are unresolved. Whether the sixty forty demand represents a fixed requirement or an opening position remains unclear.

For now, no fight has been announced. Any progress is expected to depend on Matchroom’s response and the willingness of both sides to bridge the gap on terms. De La Hoya’s post made clear that Golden Boy believes time is on its side.