On the promotional side, the tone has become tougher. Oscar De La Hoya has said he is ready to leave after receiving no response from Ennis promoter Eddie Hearn over the proposed division of the purse. This public stance can be influential or a real signal that patience is running out. Either way, it moved the discussion from waiting to exhaustion.
Ortiz’s manager, Rick Mirigian, rejected the idea of ending the talks, saying he remained authorized to negotiate directly. This detail matters. This suggests that the fight is not so much dead as mismanaged, trapped between camps and waiting for the other side to blink.
Analysts largely agree on one thing. Fighters are not the problem. Chris Algieri described the situation as a standard negotiation impasse shaped by ego and conflicting interests. Paulie Malignaggi was less diplomatic, arguing that Ortiz has already shown a willingness to take risks, while Ennis is now under greater pressure to demonstrate the same intentions.
The broader junior middleweight landscape offers no relief. All four main title holders have already been booked. Xander Zayas, Abass Baraou and Bakhram Murtazaliev are scheduled to fight in January, and Sebastian Fundora is scheduled to face Keith Thurman in behind schedule spring. Ortiz holds the interim belt with no clear goal. Ennis is modern to the weight and is still waiting for a specific assignment.
Speculation filled the space. In addition to Tim Tszyu, Errol Spence Jr. was mentioned, and Jermell Charlo will be a theoretical option in the event of a division reshuffle. Even Garcia doubted whether these paths made sense today.
There is also peaceful talk of outside funds stepping in to force progress, with Saudi financier Turki Alalshikh mentioned as a possible bridge. Given the strained relationships behind the scenes, it’s unclear whether that path still exists.
For now, Ortiz vs. Ennis remains the obvious fight that no one can finalize. Boxing has a long history of allowing clarity during ongoing negotiations. This situation is starting to look like another entry on this list.
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