Luis Ortiz-Alexander Ustinov: No Deal, Purse Bid Set For May 19

By Jake Donovan

Luis Ortiz ended his 2015 campaign on a high note, but it's been a return to more of the same in struggles to find willing opposition for the unbeaten Cuban heavyweight.

The reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) interim titlist will now have to wait out a purse bid hearing to determine when and where he will be required to defend versus mandatory challenger Alexander Ustinov. The two camps have been in talks for well over a month - including the 30-day negotiation period as ordered by the WBA - but remain far apart on every relevant term.

The brass at WBA headquarters confirmed as much Monday evening.

"Because representatives of interim WBA World heavyweight champion Luis Ortiz and challenger Alexander Ustinov have been unable to reach terms for a title match, the WBA has ordered a purse bid to take place at the sanctioning body's office in Panama on Thursday, May 19."

The original deadline set for the fight to take place was in late June, although that timeline could change within reason, depending upon the outcome of the purse bid.

Ortiz is due to make the third defense of the title he claimed last October. The 36-year old Cuban southpaw has scored knockout wins in HBO-televised wins over Bryant Jennings and Tony Thompson in each of his two defenses. His win over Thompson came this past March in Washington, D.C., the fight itself coming as a last-ditch effort after several contenders passed on the modest six-figure payday that came with fighting for a title.

Among those who decided to wait it out was Ustinov, whose co-promoters Frank Warren and Vlad Hryunov have remained confident of forcing and winning a purse bid to bring the fight either to England or Russia.

The development is the latest in continued crumbling plans for WBA President Gilberto Jesus Ramirez' well-intended attempt at securing a heavyweight title consolidation tournament. The right side of the seven-man bracket has already hit a snag, as Lucas Browne's come-from-behind title-winning knockout of Ruslan Chagaev in Grozny, Russia this past March is now under review due to the unbeaten Aussie's "A" sample testing positive for Clenbuterol during random drug testing.

Whether Browne remains champ or the belt is returned to Chagaev, still waiting in the wings is Fres Oquendo, who was guaranteed a crack at the winner.

World heavyweight king Tyson Fury and former champ Wladimir Klitschko will proceed with their rematch on July 9, but neither have expressed much of an interest in proceeding with the tournament beyond the summertime result.

Ortiz himself has expressed frustration in having to wait around, as he wants to remain as active as possible while at a hot point in his career.

For now, he'll have to wait a little longer - at least until May 19, when he will learn of his next official assignment.

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Follow his shiny new Twitter account: @JakeNDaBox_v2