Sports
Former undisputed champion offers to face either Jaron Ennis or Vergil Ortiz as talks falter
Ahead of the 2026 calendar, a scrap between Jaron Ennis and Vergil Ortiz sat atop the wish list for most of the boxing community. With talks for the contest having taken a turn for the worse, a former undisputed champion has offered to step in and face either man.
Regardless of the fact that neither Ennis or Ortiz hold a world title, a potential meeting between the undefeated super-welterweight duo sits as one of the most in-demand contests in the sport.
Yet, talks for the fight have struggled to progress, with both teams threatening to seek alternate opponents if a deal cannot be agreed soon, despite their timelines aligning for a showdown in April.
At the weekend, Ortiz filed a lawsuit against his own promotional firm, Oscar De La Hoya’s ‘Golden Boy Promotions’, believing that his team are perhaps not been as keen for the Ennis fight as he is and that they are putting the clash at risk.
De La Hoya has since reaffirmed his position and dismissed suggestions that Ortiz could be released from his contract, stating that he was just trying to make more money for his fighter when he openly demanded a ‘60/40 split’ in Ortiz’s favour for a bout with Ennis.
Although, with that dispute set to continue, fans are beginning to lose hope in the affair and former undisputed super-welterweight champion Jermell Charlo has made it clear he is willing to face either man.
“Boxing is not a team sport. So, the next move is always the best move. Idk wtf they are fussing about but I’ve always heard you doing something right when the other team start to feud. 154 is the most overlooked division. I’ll fix the problem, send me contact ODH [Oscar De La Hoya] or Eddie [Hearn].”
Any
— JERMELL CHARLO (@TwinCharlo) January 17, 2026
Charlo is yet to fight since an underwhelming and unsuccessful challenge for Canelo Alvarez’s undisputed super-middleweight title back in September 2023, but ‘Iron Man’ looks poised to return to action at either 154lbs or 160lbs during 2026.
