Vergil Ortiz Jr. was close to securing the biggest fight available to him. The paperwork never reached the finish line. A Nevada federal judge granted Golden Boy Promotions a temporary restraining order that prevents Ortiz from signing contracts with third-party promoters while the contractual lawsuit between the two sides remains unresolved, according to court filings and multiple reports.
The order arrived at the exact point Ortiz’s team was working to finalize a fight with Jaron “Boots” Ennis for an April 18 Matchroom card. That agreement depended on Ortiz’s ability to move freely in the market. The court ruling removed that ability and stopped the process before signatures were completed.
Judge blocks Ortiz from leaving
Ortiz had been operating under the belief that Golden Boy’s expired DAZN broadcast agreement cleared the path forward. That platform deal ended on December 31, 2025, and Ortiz’s side viewed its expiration as the natural end of the promotional relationship. Golden Boy disagreed and filed suit, arguing that its promotional contract with Ortiz continues independently of any network arrangement. The restraining order confirms the court accepted enough of Golden Boy’s position to intervene while the legal dispute proceeds.
Golden Boy moves to preserve contractual control
The timing leaves little doubt about why the order was requested when it was. Ortiz’s manager was already advancing discussions for the Ennis fight, and the agreement was nearing completion. Golden Boy moved through the legal system to stop Ortiz from committing to a rival promoter’s event. The court’s decision ensures that no new agreements can be finalized until the contractual question is decided.
The immediate effect reaches beyond Ortiz himself. Ennis had been closing in on a fight that carried real competitive value and answered questions about the division’s hierarchy. That opportunity disappeared overnight once the restraining order took effect. Ennis now returns to the search for an opponent, while Ortiz remains unavailable until the lawsuit moves forward.
Golden Boy has not secured a final ruling on Ortiz’s contractual status, but they have achieved the immediate objective of preventing him from leaving. The restraining order places his career under legal supervision for the time being. Every future step depends on the court’s timeline rather than the normal pace of fight negotiation.
This situation removes uncertainty about one thing. Ortiz’s attempted exit from Golden Boy is no longer a matter of negotiation or preference. It is a legal fight now, and the court holds control over when his career is allowed to move again.
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Last Updated on 02/14/2026
