Vergil Ortiz Jr. Blocked From Leaving Golden Boy

Nevada judge compels arbitration, keeps Ortiz tied to Golden Boy while DAZN contract dispute moves forward

Vergil Ortiz Jr. cannot negotiate with another promoter after a Nevada judge granted Golden Boy Promotions’ request to compel arbitration. The ruling keeps the welterweight contender tied to Golden Boy while the contract dispute is decided.

Nevada District Judge Cristina Silva approved Golden Boy’s motion and issued interim injunctive relief, according to BoxingScene. The order bars Ortiz from seeking promotional deals elsewhere while the contract dispute proceeds through arbitration.

Ortiz remains contractually bound to Golden Boy during that process. The arbitration will determine whether the welterweight contender had the legal basis to terminate the agreement.

The legal argument centered on Section 10(g) of the contract. The clause ties Ortiz’s promotional agreement to Golden Boy’s distribution relationship with DAZN.

Ortiz’s legal team argued the contract expired once Golden Boy’s previous DAZN output arrangement ended on December 31. Their position was straightforward. If the broadcast agreement ended, the promotional deal connected to it ended as well.

Golden Boy presented a different interpretation. The company argued the clause referred to a continuing distribution relationship rather than a single broadcast contract tied to a specific expiration date.

Court filings pointed to events that continued to stream on DAZN after December 31. Golden Boy also referenced ongoing talks aimed at securing a longer distribution arrangement with the platform.

DAZN chief operating officer Ed McCarthy confirmed those negotiations were still taking place, even though a new agreement had not been finalized. Judge Silva cited those ongoing discussions as evidence that the distribution relationship between Golden Boy and DAZN had not ended.

Ortiz’s side also argued Golden Boy waived its right to arbitration through separate litigation involving Ortiz’s manager Rick Mirigian. Silva rejected that argument, writing that Golden Boy’s actions were consistent with enforcing the arbitration provision in the contract.

The legal fight now moves away from open court and into private arbitration, where the final interpretation of the agreement will be decided.

Under the court order, both sides must submit a joint status report by September 2, 2026, or within five days after the arbitrator issues a ruling.

For now, the immediate result is clear. Ortiz remains tied to Golden Boy’s promotional banner while the contract dispute plays out in arbitration.