By Luke Furman

Russian promoter Vladimir Hyrunov is back in the heavyweight picture as he is going to work with seven-foot Alexander Ustinov (29-1, 21KOs). Ustinov has been inactive since last November's domination of David Tua. The boxer was scheduled earlier this year to face Tyson Fury, who withdrew on the morning of their fight with a family emergency.

According to Hryunov, Ustinov's contract expired with K2 Ukraine and now the boxer is free to pursue a fight with heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko (who along with his brother Vitali are owners in K2 Ukraine).

"On November 7th at a card in Moscow we met with Alexander Ustinov, with whom I plan to get started working with. And one of the objectives, which is clearly stated by his coach Vladimir Zadiran, is the possibility of a fight with Wladimir Klitschko . Because in my opinion, and the opinion of the coach, it is possible that Klitschko's company just signed a contract with Ustinov to hold him back [from such a fight] and have control of his career. But now this contract with K2 has expired, and if all goes well Ustinov will already return on December 11 in cooperation with us," Hryunov told Gazeta.

Luke Furman covers boxing for bokser.org.