By Igor Lazorin, tass
Vlad Hryunov, manager of heavyweight contender Alexander Ustinov (33-1, 24 KOs), says a date and location is being pursued for the mandatory clash with WBA interim-champion Luis Ortiz (25-0, 22 KOs).
Hryunov secured the promotional rights last Monday, after submitted the sole bid at the WBA's purse in Panama. Russian promoter Andrey Ryabinsky of World of Boxing, who was represented at the purse bid by Hryunov, secured the rights with a sole bid of $600,000.
According to Hryunov, they are looking at October 7th in St. Petersburg, Russia. The fight would become part of a grand event to celebrate the birthday of Russian President Vladimir Putin (born on Octover 7).
BoxingScene reported last Sunday, that Ortiz's co-promoters - Golden Boy Promotions and Dade Promotions - were involved in a business dispute. Dade was negotiating with Golden Boy to purchase the full promotional rights to Ortiz. Based on the current situation, there was no surprise for the parties involved when both Golden Boy and Dade were absent at the purse bid.
There is a slight chance of Ortiz-Ustinov taking place on November 19th in Las Vegas, as part of the HBO Pay-Per-View undercard to Sergey Kovalev vs. Andre Ward at the T-Mobile Arena. In order for that to happen, says Hryunov, the lead promoters (Roc Nation Sports and Main Events) would have offer up a handsome amount of money to take away Ustinov's ability to have home field advantage.
