“Eddie didn’t name me, so I’m transferring on,” De La Hoya mentioned to Boxingscene.
In a separate video posted later within the day, De La Hoya eliminated any remaining ambiguity. He mentioned that if Eddie Hearn didn’t name by the top of Monday to just accept the provide, negotiations have been completed. The phrases, he mentioned, wouldn’t be revisited, and there could be no prolonged forwards and backwards.
The proposal would have given Ortiz the bigger share as interim WBC titleholder at junior middleweight, with 5 p.c reserved for the winner. Jaron Ennis would have entered the combat as an unbeaten former unified welterweight champion making his full transition into the 154 pound division.
From Golden Boy’s place, the delay itself grew to become the reply. Ortiz is energetic, holds a recognised belt, and has already taken demanding fights since transferring up in weight. De La Hoya has proven little curiosity in letting his fighter sit whereas ready for a response which will by no means come.
Consideration is now shifting elsewhere. De La Hoya has mentioned he expects to open talks with representatives for Sebastian Fundora, and he has additionally talked about Errol Spence Jr. as a doable future opponent. Each names symbolize established paths slightly than extended negotiation.
For Ennis, the scenario leaves a narrower lane. He made his junior middleweight debut earlier this 12 months with a fast stoppage of Uisma Lima, a combat that served as an introduction to the burden slightly than a take a look at on the prime of the division. Whereas choices stay, the Ortiz combat was the one that may have instantly settled questions on his place at 154.
Elsewhere, the division continues to take form. Xander Zayas is scheduled to face Abass Baraou, whereas IBF titleholder Bakhram Murtazaliev is about to defend in opposition to Josh Kelly.
If the decision was going to come back, it needed to come now. It didn’t. De La Hoya says that ends it, and he’s already appearing prefer it has.
