“We’re just waiting. It’s extremely frustrating. We can’t understand it. We’ve agreed to a deal with Golden Boy. I believe Golden Boy and Oscar (De La Hoya) want that fight,” Hearn told the media.
Hearn said there are limited alternatives to WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. and questioned what other options are available.
“‘Boots’ is signed for the fight. Ortiz, I just can’t understand what’s happening. Who else is there for Ortiz to fight?” Hearn said.
Hearn ruled out a fight between Ortiz and former unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr., noting that Spence hasn’t boxed in two years.
“Errol Spence is not going to fight next, and Errol Spence hasn’t boxed in two years,” Hearn said.
Spence, 35, has not fought since his knockout loss to Terence Crawford in July 2023.
Hearn called Ennis vs. Ortiz the top matchup in the division and said he hopes Ortiz moves forward with the fight.
“We’re hoping that Vergil Ortiz wants the challenge and wants to prove that he’s the best in the world. That’s the number one and number two in my opinion at 154 pounds. So let’s make it happen,” Hearn said.
Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya previously suggested that negotiations could become difficult after Ortiz’s knockout victory over Erickson Lubin in November.
“If we don’t get favorable negotiations, we can always go to Errol Spence Jr. or Sebastian Fundora,” De La Hoya said at the post-fight press conference. “Vergil Ortiz is the man. He holds all the cards.”
