By Elisinio Castillo
BoxingScene.com reported on Wednesday that the World Boxing Association (WBA) was having trouble locating Alexander Ustinov (33-1, 24 KOs) to take part in their heavyweight tournament.
The sanctioning body ordered a series of fights to create a single world champion. At the moment the WBA super champion is Tyson Fury, the WBA regular champion is Ruslan Chagaev and the WBA interim champion is Luis Ortiz.
They ordered Ortiz (24-0, 21 KOs) to face Ustinov in one of the bouts. Ortiz accepted right away. Ustinov was missing, according to the WBA.
Ortiz already has a stay busy fight in place against Alexander Dimitrenko on March 5th.
Today was the deadline to accept the fight and Ustinov is now on board.
The fighter is promoted by Frank Warren, and managed by Vladimir Hryunov of Russia.
Warre's company reached out to the WBA and Golden Boy Promotions, to accept the fight on Ustinov's behalf.
"Queensberry Promotions (Frank Warren) are the exclusive promoters of Ustinov (who is managed by Vlad Hrunov) but we have not received any official correspondence in respect of this deadline ultimatum other than the original letter that proposed the fights," the statement read from Warren's company.
"Of course, we can formally confirm that Ustinov does accept this nomination to face Ortiz and we will contact Golden Boy Promotions regarding negotiations for this contest. In the meantime please accept this as confirmation that Ustinov does accept the fight with Ortiz."
