For the first time in more than two years, the next fight for Jaron Ennis will come without a legal battle playing out in the background.

The supremely gifted welterweight contender has agreed to a settlement with estranged promoter Chris Middendorf and Victory Boxing Promotions, putting to end a messy lawsuit which at one point threatened to put Ennis’ career on hold. Terms of the settlement are restricted, other than the court docket for the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Iowa indicating that a trial date previously set for Monday has been canceled.

“The Court was advised by counsel that this case has settled,” read the docket. “Closing documents (i.e., a stipulated dismissal signed by counsel for both parties) shall be filed by June 17, 2021. If no closing documents are filed, pursuant to Local Rule 41.c the Court may order dismissal of this action without further notice.

“Within 60 days of a dismissal order, either party may petition to have the case reinstated after showing good cause as to why settlement was not in fact consummated. Trial set for May 17, 2021, is canceled. Dismissal Papers due by 6/17/2021.”

The legal issue first came about following a falling out between Middendorf and former business partner Cameron Dunkin, who remains a driving force behind Ennis’ career. Middendorf filed a lawsuit seeking Declaratory Judgment Action in March 2019, four months after the last fight for Ennis (27-0, 25KOs) at the time—a 2nd round knockout of Raymond Serrano on a Nov. 2018 Shobox telecast from Ennis’ Philadelphia hometown.

Shortly after that bout, it was learned by Middendorf—according to the filed lawsuit, a copy of which has been obtained by BoxingScene.com—that moves were being made in Ennis’ career without his knowledge. Such claims were made on the heels of a press release distributed by Dunkin’s Now Boxing Promotions, in which Ennis publicly declared that he was moving forward with Dunkin and no longer had any contractual ties to Middendorf.

“I signed with Cameron Dunkin not Chris Middendorf,” Ennis claimed at the time. “Chris worked for Cameron, so it was really strange when he started acting like he was in charge, like he was the promoter. “My pops (Derek “Bozy” Ennis Sr.) goes back a long ways with Cameron and I got to know him really well when everybody was recruiting me out of the amateurs. Cameron was the guy we signed with. I never had any dealings or agreements with Chris Middendorf other than him working for Cameron.”

Middendorf and his legal team disputed such claims, arguing that a binding contract in fact existed in still claiming him as the promoter.

The legal case threatened to put Ennis’ career on hold, only for an agreement to be reached beyond the lawsuit permitting the boxer to return to the ring beginning with a 1st round knockout of Franklin Mamani in Aug. 2019. The bout was not televised other than being featured in highlights as part of a Shobox telecast.

Ennis (27-0, 25KOs) made his way back in front of a camera later that October in a 3rd round knockout of Demian Daniel Fernandez. The bout aired live on Showtime, which has carried his last five fights.

The most recent came this past April, when he headlined a Showtime Championship Boxing telecast for the first time. The 23-year-old contender didn’t disappoint, tearing through former junior welterweight titlist Sergey Lipinets en route to a 6th round stoppage win.  

Calls have since come for Ennis to next challenge for a title or any other top-level welterweight willing to meet him in the ring. That journey will now come free and clear of any courtroom hassle, at least as it relates to his current promotional status.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox