“I feel like I’m almost like blacklisted in a way,” Ortiz said to Chris Mannix’s channel. “I’m just knocking on the door of one of those big fights, and I’m waiting on those opportunities. That’s exactly where I was two years ago.”
Ortiz Jr. pointed to several situations that left him frustrated. He questioned why he never received a title opportunity after winning the interim junior middleweight WBC belt and also mentioned Terence Crawford moving directly into a WBA title fight instead of him receiving that chance first.
His comments did not address several factors that contributed to his career delays. Serious health issues interrupted his career for years, forcing multiple withdrawals and lengthy layoffs. More recently, the legal fight between Ortiz’s team and Golden Boy Promotions froze negotiations for major bouts, including a proposed showdown with Ennis. The dispute was resolved only this week, allowing Ortiz to resume his career.
Vergil Jr. also acknowledged that he is not heavily involved in contract negotiations, leaving those discussions to his management.
“They just ask me if I want to fight. I say, ‘Yeah.’ They work out the numbers,” said Ortiz Jr.
The Golden Boy settlement removes one obstacle that had stalled Vergil Jr’s career. Negotiations remain another question. Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn recently said Team Ortiz Jr. sought A-side terms during talks for a Jaron Ennis fight, including a larger purse and several other conditions. If future negotiations with Ennis, Fundora or other champions encounter similar roadblocks, Ortiz’s claim that he has been “blacklisted” will be tested.
