By Vadim Pushkin
Vlad Hryunov, manager of heavyweight contender Alexander Ustinov (33-1, 24 KOs), has informed BoxingScene.com that WBA interim-champion Luis Ortiz (25-0, 22 KOs) failed to sign a bout agreement by the deadline date of September 4th.
Hryunov secured the promotional rights to Ortiz-Ustinov, after he submitted the sole bid at the WBA's purse in Panama last month. Russian promoter Andrey Ryabinsky of World of Boxing, who was represented at the purse bid by Hryunov, snatched the rights with a winning bid of $600,000.
According to Hryunov, they were looking to stage the fight in St. Petersburg, Russia. The fight would have been part of a grand event to celebrate the birthday of Russian President Vladimir Putin (born on October 7).
Ortiz's career has been all over the place in recent months. A few weeks ago his co-promoters - Golden Boy Promotions and Dade Promotions - were involved in a business dispute. Dade was able to negotiate a deal with Golden Boy where they purchased the full promotional rights to Ortiz. Neither Golden Boy or Dade were present at last month's purse bid.
Because the fight was ordered by the World Boxing Association as part of their tournament to crown a single WBA champion in the division, Hyrunov will speak with the sanctioning body, likely to get Ortiz stripped of the title - with Ustinov receiving the title by default or facing the next available contender for the belt.