Ennis Signed. Ortiz Didn’t. And the Terms Changed

Eddie Hearn says the fight between Jaron Ennis and Vergil Ortiz Jr. was agreed in full, then quietly pulled back.

Speaking to iFL TV, Hearn said a 50–50 deal with a five percent bonus to the winner was settled in a meeting involving himself, Oscar De La Hoya, Golden Boy executives, and DAZN. According to Hearn, all parties signed off on the structure. Ennis signed the contract. Ortiz did not.

Hearn said Golden Boy later shifted its position, asking for a 60–40 split in Ortiz’s favour, with five percent still going to the winner. De La Hoya has publicly said he will not move off those numbers and has described Hearn as “begging” during negotiations.

That change matters because, by Hearn’s account, the original terms were already locked.

“We all agreed to the deal,” Hearn said. “Fifty–fifty and five percent to the winner. Jaron signed. Vergil didn’t.”

Hearn said the winner’s bonus was designed to reward confidence. If a fighter believes he will win, the upside is clear. The split effectively becomes 55–45 for the winner. Hearn described it as an obvious solution for a fight widely seen as competitive on paper.

He also rejected the idea that pushing for the bout signals weakness.

“I am desperate,” Hearn said. “Desperate to make the best fights.”

De La Hoya has countered by saying he has other options for Ortiz. Some fans have read that stance as strategic distance. If Ennis walks away, Ortiz avoids being blamed for the fight collapsing.

Hearn said he now has to speak with his fighter because the situation has changed.

“We agreed,” he said. “If that deal is no longer available, that’s a different conversation.”

For now, the fight remains unsigned, not because terms could not be found, but because previously agreed terms are being reopened. That distinction is important, and it does not reflect well on the side asking to rewrite the room after the fact.