The highly anticipated showdown between undefeated welterweight stars Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Jaron “Boots” Ennis has hit a significant roadblock — and it isn’t contained in the ring. A Nevada federal judge granted Golden Boy Promotions an emergency temporary restraining order against Ortiz on Friday, effectively blocking the fighter from signing any third-party contracts for the Ennis matchup until further court proceedings.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Jaron “Boots” Ennis is probably not happening in any case 😳
A Nevada judge granted Golden Boy Promotions’ emergency motion for a brief restraining order against Ortiz on Friday, which stops Ortiz from getting into a third-party contracts for his fight against… pic.twitter.com/rgCdSzooyy
— Uncrowned (@uncrownedcombat) February 14, 2026
Judge Cristina D. Silva of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada issued the nine-page ruling, which prevents Ortiz from finalizing what was shaping as much as be one in every of boxing’s most compelling fights of 2026. A hearing is scheduled for February 20, where either side will argue the merits of the continuing contractual dispute.
The Contract Controversy
The legal drama stems from Ortiz’s three-year promotional take care of Golden Boy, signed in May 2024. When Golden Boy’s broadcasting agreement with DAZN expired on December 31, 2025, Ortiz invoked a clause allowing him to terminate his contract if the promoter did not secure a brand new exclusive distribution deal. On January 8, Ortiz formally terminated the agreement, believing himself to be a free agent.
Golden Boy Sues Vergil Ortiz Jr.’s Manager for $10M Over Alleged Contract Interference.#kasportsboxing #boxingnews #worldboxing #boxingtraining #kboxtv #acetvboxing #boxeo #world #boxing #goldenboy #vergilortiz pic.twitter.com/eopzkTOlNE
— KA SPORTS (@kazportz) February 12, 2026
Golden Boy fired back, arguing that Ortiz stays under contract because negotiations with DAZN are ongoing despite the expired deal. The promoter maintains that Ortiz’s termination is premature and unauthorized, setting the stage for the present legal standoff.
Behind-the-Scenes Fight Negotiations
In response to court filings, Golden Boy learned from multiple boxing industry sources over the weekend that Ortiz was nearing a take care of third parties for the Ennis bout. Tom Brown of TGB Promotions reportedly informed Golden Boy on February 11 that Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing was planning to stage Ortiz-Ennis on April 18 in Las Vegas.
In other news, #GoldenBoy #Boxing has filed an Temporary Restraining Order within the Vergil Ortiz case citing that Ortiz is attempting to finalize a fight with Boots Ennis through one other entity. pic.twitter.com/pgarytkzQo
— MMA Payout (@MMAPayout) February 13, 2026
These negotiations proceeded without Golden Boy’s involvement or authorization — a direct violation of their promotional agreement, in line with the promoter. Golden Boy immediately sought the emergency restraining order, arguing that allowing Ortiz to sign elsewhere would cause irreparable damage to their business relationships, broadcasting negotiations, and promotional prospects.
Beyond the immediate legal battle, Golden Boy claims their ongoing DAZN negotiations for a 2026-27 broadcasting deal have stalled as a result of the Ortiz dispute. The promoter argues that losing Ortiz to a rival promoter for the Ennis fight could cause DAZN to terminate discussions entirely, threatening Golden Boy’s future as a significant player in boxing.
For fight fans, the stakes are equally high. Each Ortiz and Ennis hold interim junior middleweight titles and represent two of the game’s brightest young talents. The clash would determine a transparent divisional hierarchy and supply the form of elite-level matchup boxing desperately needs.
With the February 20 hearing looming, the boxing world may have to attend to see whether this superfight might be salvaged—or if it becomes one other casualty of promotional politics and legal warfare.