As he laid it out, the division is already moving down a path that may not include Ortiz unless something changes quickly behind the scenes.
“I think it’s a good matchup. You might have to give the edge to Boots just because he’s on a roll, but I love Xander,” De La Hoya told Sean Zittel.
That view lingered slightly in Ennis’ mind, but not much. De La Hoya still sees Zayas as a serious problem, especially with his control of distance and ability to string combinations together. He didn’t separate them wide, which is fitting how close that fight looks on paper.
The sharper comments came when Ortiz was brought up. De La Hoya made it clear that he sees himself falling behind as other names push for title fights and unifications.
“It’s sad. Ortiz is going to be on the sidelines while all these champions are fighting each other. He’s going to be left in the dust. I still feel like Virgil is the best guy at 154,” said De La Hoya.
Oscar also pointed to the direction of the division, where champions are expected to face each other first. This leaves limited room for anyone outside that group to break in without a change in plans or new negotiations opening a door.
“I hope I can fix things so we can get these fights in place,” De La Hoya said.
This must be incredibly frustrating for De La Hoya. He knows Ortiz is a superstar talent, but the relationship has completely broken down.
Ortiz has been vocal on social media, bluntly stating, “My time with Golden Boy is over.” He even filed a lawsuit to terminate his contract, arguing that Golden Boy’s lack of a permanent broadcast deal beyond December 2025 gave him an exit.
De La Hoya’s feelings on Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. Xander Zayas is a bit complicated. On the one hand, he is a fan of the sport and recognizes it as a great game. On the other hand, it represents the exact fight he wanted for his own stable.
Indeed, most supporters and oddsmakers choose Ennis. He is currently a -330 favorite, and his explosiveness is hard to bet against. De La Hoya giving him the edge is just acknowledging the reality that Ennis is on a roll.
In speaking highly of Zayas, De La Hoya subtly throws shade at the Ennis camp. By calling it a “close fight on paper,” he’s trying to play down the idea that Ennis is an unstoppable force, perhaps opening the door to later claiming that Ortiz is the only one who can truly beat anyone.
The June 27 date at the Barclays Center is an important statement for the division. While Ennis and Zayas unify belts and build their legacies, Ortiz is stuck in the gym and in the courtroom.
