Golden Boy Promotions and Oscar De La Hoya face a decisive challenge as pressure mounts on two of the company’s biggest names in the same week.

Recommended by Vergil Ortiz Jr. his April 18 bout with Jaron “Boots” Ennis was effectively put on hold after a Nevada judge issued a ephemeral restraining order against Golden Boy, halting the fight until the contract dispute was resolved in court.

An emergency hearing is scheduled for Friday to determine whether Matchroom can continue operating without Golden Boy’s involvement. A ruling is expected Friday or early next week if the case is not resolved sooner.

Behind the scenes, the stakes are higher than a single fight in Las Vegas.

Fight for Ortiz’s leverage

Ortiz filed a lawsuit in January seeking to terminate the promotional contract, arguing that Golden Boy’s contract requires the company to always maintain an busy broadcasting contract. Golden Boy’s longtime partner DAZN has reportedly linked contract renewal discussions to the finalization of the Ortiz-Ennis fight.

Golden Boy responds that he signed Ortiz to a three-year contract in August 2024 after he won the interim WBC junior middleweight title, securing the exclusive right to negotiate his fights.

In a separate lawsuit, the company is also seeking damages of more than $10 million from Ortiz’s manager, accusing him of interference with contractual and economic interests.

Sources indicate there is still hope that the Ortiz-Ennis situation can be resolved before trial. However, it is also expected that Golden Boy will ultimately have no involvement in organizing the fight, regardless of its outcome.

This ability immediately changes leverage.

Garcia signals the exit

As Ortiz’s case heads toward a courtroom decision, Ryan Garcia has publicly suggested that his upcoming WBC title fight against Mario Barrios could be his last fight under the Golden Boy banner.

Garcia said there would be “kind of a free agent” after that, again raising questions about the stability of one of boxing’s most high-profile promotional partnerships.

The relationship between Garcia and De La Hoya was already strained. As previously reported by World Boxing News, Garcia went public with the blocked Jake Paul fight, accusing Golden Boy of obstructing a fight he believed made commercial sense.

The episode revealed deeper tensions over control over career direction, and recent commentary suggests these issues are still close to the surface.

Structural oppression

Golden Boy’s power has long rested on controlling three levers: contract rights, television coverage and star assets.

All three will be tested this week, years after Canelo Alvarez forced a withdrawal in a similar public rift with De La Hoya.

Ortiz’s future now depends on contract language and broadcasting responsibilities. Discussions about contract renewal on DAZN are reportedly linked to the fight, which was stopped by the referee. Meanwhile, Garcia publicly signals independence after fulfilling his immediate obligations.

None of this guarantees division. Contracts are enforceable instruments, and emergency hearings do not alone determine the long-term future.

But boxing does not wait for changes in documents before a change of government. It responds to momentum.

De La Hoya doesn’t just defend the contract in court. It’s trying to stay relevant in a market that’s becoming more aggressive, more consolidated and less patient with aged ways of doing business.

Regardless of the referee’s decision in the coming days, Golden Boy finds itself at a point where control over its two main stars is being openly tested at the same time.

If both situations get out of Golden Boy’s control, it won’t make for a challenging week. This will be read as a turning point.