Vergil Ortiz Jr.: Golden Boy Promotions motion for arbitration granted

A Nevada judge has granted Golden Boy Promotions’ motion for arbitration in their case against Vergil Ortiz Jr.

Nevada District Judge Cristina Silva made the ruling on Monday, allowing the boxing promotion to compel arbitration in their ongoing legal battle against Ortiz. The ruling also prevents the American boxer and his manager, Rick Mirigian, from negotiating or contracting with third parties for future fights “before the arbitrator addresses the parties’ dispute set forth in this action.”

Ortiz’s legal team filed a lawsuit against Golden Boy Promotions earlier this year, citing breach of contract and interference with economic advantage. They claimed that the fighter’s contract with the company expired after Golden Boy Promotions’ output deal with DAZN expired on Dec. 31.

What exactly did the judge rule?

“While Ortiz attempts to argue application of agency principles, this argument requires that I find Golden Boy’s decision to sue Mirigian as constituting waiver,” Silva said in a final ruling that was obtained by BoxingScene’s Jake Donovan. “But Ortiz fails to meaningfully analyze how those principles apply here. Ortiz also fails to cite points and authorities to support his position that Golden Boy’s decision to sue Mirigian waives its right to invoke arbitration here.”

“Even so, this argument has been raised and rejected in other courts… thus, I also grant Golden Boy’s request for interim injunctive relief to allow for meaningful arbitration, so I hereby order that Ortiz may not negotiate or contract with third parties for future fights before the arbitrator addresses the parties’ dispute set forth in this action.”

The ruling came 10 days after both sides presented their final arguments. Ortiz, Matchroom Boxing, and DAZN were seeking to match the Texan against Jaron Ennis sometime this year. Those plans will now have to be put to the side as this case goes to arbitration.

“The totality of Golden Boy’s actions does not indicate that it waived its right to arbitration,” Silva said. “Rather, its actions are consistent with its right to enforce the arbitration provision of the Agreement. Accordingly, I grant Golden Boy’s motion to compel arbitration. Further, because I find that this action is arbitrable, injunctive relief is necessary to preserve the status quo.”

Vergil Ortiz Jr. had filed emergency motion hours prior to ruling

After Ortiz’s legal team filed a lawsuit earlier this year, Golden Boy Promotions then obtained a temporary restraining order that prevented him from working with other boxing promotions. Ortiz filed an emergency motion on Monday against it, claiming that it has expired. Golden Boy Promotions received the temporary restraining order on Feb. 13. Ortiz claimed the court gave it an expiration date of Feb. 27.

“It is further ordered that Golden Boy’s motion to dismiss is denied. It is further ordered that Ortiz’s emergency motion is granted in part and denied in part as set forth in this order,” ruled Silva.