Vergil Ortiz Jr. he was close to finding the greatest battle available to him. The papers did not reach the finish line. A Nevada federal judge granted Golden Boy Promotions a temporary restraining order preventing Ortiz from signing contracts with third-party promoters while a contract lawsuit between the two parties is pending, according to court filings and multiple reports.
The order came at a time when Ortiz’s team was working to finalize a fight with Jaron “Boots” Ennis for the April 18 Matchroom card. That deal was contingent on Ortiz’s ability to move freely on the market. The court ruling removed that ability and stopped the program before the signing was completed.
The judge stops Ortiz from leaving
Ortiz was operating under the belief that Golden Boy’s expired DAZN broadcast deal paved the way forward. That arena deal expired on December 31, 2025, and Ortiz’s side viewed its end as a natural end to the promotional relationship. Golden Boy disagreed and filed a lawsuit, claiming that his promotional contract with Ortiz continues independently of any network arrangement. The restraining order confirms that the court has accepted enough for Golden Boy to intervene during the ongoing legal dispute.
Golden Boy moves to maintain control of the contract
The timing leaves little doubt as to why the order was requested while it is. Ortiz’s manager was already advancing negotiations for the Ennis fight, and the deal was nearing completion. Golden Boy entered the legal process to stop Ortiz from committing to a rival promoter’s event. The court decision ensures that no new agreements can be concluded until the contract question is decided.
The immediate effect reaches beyond Ortiz himself. Ennis wrapped up a real competitive battle and answered questions about the division’s management team. That opportunity disappeared the night the ban went into effect. Ennis now returns to the search for his opponent, while Ortiz is nowhere to be found until the case moves forward.
Golden Boy has yet to make a final decision on Ortiz’s contract status, but they have accomplished the immediate goal of keeping him from leaving. The restraining order puts his work under legal supervision for now. All future steps depend on the court’s timeline rather than the normal pace of adversarial negotiations.
This situation removes uncertainty about one thing. Ortiz’s efforts to get out of Golden Boy are no longer a matter of negotiation or choice. It’s a legal battle now, and the court has decided when his work is allowed to move again.
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Last updated on 02/14/2026
