De La Hoya Wants Ortiz Jr. Vs. Ennis Fight In 2026

By Elliot Raines: Promoter Oscar De La Hoya says he “1000%” needs the Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis combat to occur in 2026. However earlier than that may happen, Ortiz Jr. (23-0, 21 KOs) should win his combat towards Erickson Lubin this Saturday, November eighth, on the Dickies Enviornment in Fort Value, Texas.

(Credit score: Golden Boy Promotions / Cris Esqueda)

Verbal Deal With Eddie Hearn

Oscar states that he has a “verbal settlement” with Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs) and his promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing. However once more, Ortiz Jr. has to win his combat towards Lubin (27-2, 19 KOs) for the talks to start.

Vergil Jr., 27, will probably be defending his WBC interim junior middleweight title towards #4 Lubin, 30, on DAZN this Saturday evening.

“I welcome Eddie [Hearn]. I welcome Ennis to see the perfect 154 and that’s Vergil Ortiz,” mentioned Oscar De La Hoya to Struggle Hub TV, reacting to the information of Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and promoter Eddie Hearn planning on being ringside for Vergil Ortiz Jr’s combat towards Erickson Lubin this Saturday.

De La Hoya’s remark about Vergil being “the perfect 154” is difficult to imagine. Does Oscar actually assume that after watching the robust time Ortiz Jr. had in his final two fights towards Israil Madrimov and Serhii Bohachuk? Even when he does, many followers don’t. They view Ortiz Jr. as under Ennis, and probably beneath Bakhram Murtazaliev and Sebastian Fundora as effectively.

“I’m simply afraid that if ‘Boots’ sees Vergil Jr. in individual, he’s going to shrink back from the combat. I need that combat 1000%. First issues first. Vergil has to win on Saturday. That’s the underside line. I’m not going to take Vergil from his tunnel imaginative and prescient and say, ‘Signal this contract. We’re going to combat ‘Boots’ Ennis.

Followers Scent Hesitation

What made De La Hoya’s feedback sound fishy is how he repeatedly mentioned at this time that Ennis and Hearn may change their thoughts about combating Vergil Jr. after they see how good he’s on Saturday evening. They may be scared off. That doesn’t appear practical. Ennis and Hearn each seem to actually need the Ortiz Jr. combat subsequent. They wouldn’t be touring to Fort Value to sit down at ringside in the event that they didn’t.

Concern of Shedding the Funding

The best way Oscar spoke, some followers on social media imagine he’s cooking up excuses to keep away from making the combat between Vergil Jr. and ‘Boots’ to make sure his fighter doesn’t get crushed. That’s completely comprehensible if De La Hoya doesn’t need the combat. Why would he need Ortiz Jr. to get uncovered by Ennis, get knocked out doubtlessly, and lose worth? All these years of exhausting work and cash De La Hoya put into Ortiz’s profession could be down the drain.

“Let him win this combat on Saturday, after which we’ll begin negotiations. Is there a verbal settlement? Yeah. Eddie needs it, I need it, Vergil needs it, Boots needs it. We’ll begin negotiating proper after the victory if he wins,” mentioned De La Hoya.

Elliot Raines has lined British and European boxing since 2010. Recognized for his sharp pen and low tolerance for hype, Raines dissects the game’s politics, promoters, and paper champions with dry precision.