A legal battle has erupted in the world of boxing, with Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions taking aim at Vergil Ortiz Jr.'s manager, Rick Mirigian. The stakes are high, with Golden Boy seeking over $10 million in damages, claiming that Mirigian has interfered with their contract and the lucrative benefits it brings.
This lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court, casts a shadow over the ongoing negotiations for a potential fight between Ortiz and Jaron "Boots" Ennis. The timing couldn't be more intriguing, as reports suggest these talks are in advanced stages, with a potential date of April 25th on DAZN.
Golden Boy's lead attorney, Ricardo P. Cestero, paints a picture of Mirigian's actions as a self-serving campaign. He writes, "Mirigian has embarked on a self-promotion journey, aiming to curry favor with the new boxing player on the block, Dana White, and his Zuffa Boxing promotion."
But here's where it gets controversial... Mirigian is accused of disclosing private details of Ortiz's contractual situation to competing promoters, including Zuffa, Canelo Promotions, and Matchroom. This alleged behavior has weakened Golden Boy's position and, according to the lawsuit, "interfered with Golden Boy's contracts for his own personal interest."
Ortiz, for his part, has alleged in a separate lawsuit that Golden Boy's partnership with DAZN is expiring, giving him the freedom to leave the promotion. Golden Boy, however, counters that they signed Ortiz to a three-year deal in 2024, granting them exclusive rights to negotiate all of Ortiz's boxing activities.
And this is the part most people miss... Mirigian is accused of sharing sensitive information with rival promoters, including minimum purses and the importance of the DAZN partnership. This, Golden Boy argues, has undermined their position and sabotaged their ties with Ortiz and DAZN.
As a result, Golden Boy is seeking injunctive relief to stop the alleged interference and has disclosed that their 2026-2027 license fee from DAZN is at risk due to this dispute.
So, what do you think? Is Mirigian's behavior a calculated move to advance his career, or is Golden Boy overreacting? The boxing world is watching, and the outcome of this lawsuit could have major implications for the sport. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
