By Elisinio Castillo
Top rated heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz (25-0, 22 KOs) of Cuba has found himself in a legal tug of war.
Promoter Greg Cohen recently filed a lawsuit in Manhattan against Ortiz and Dade Promotions, claiming the involved parties are in breach of contract and owe him money.
Cohen is alleging that Ortiz and Dade signed a promotional agreement with Golden Boy, but failed to honor a previously inked agreement with him.
According to sources who are close to Cohen, HBO will not touch Ortiz or televise a planned June return - until the lawsuit and promotional beef is resolved.
Ortiz's manager is confident his boxer will continue his career moves as planned. The WBA ordered Ortiz, who is their interim-heavyweight champion, to face Alexander Ustinov. The winner of that bout will become the mandatory challenger to the Wladimir Klitschko-Tyson Fury rematch, which takes place on July 9th.
"These are all lies and the truth will soon come out,'' said Jay Jimenez, manager of Ortiz, to George Ebro. "Right now our lawyers are presenting evidence, the evidence that shows we are in the right. Ortiz must fight in June.''
"We are working on something big, something very good for Luis, but I can not reveal it right now. I do not understand how someone would want to hurt someone as good of a human being like him. We will not stop in our quest for a world title for him and for Cuba.''
But a source close to the Cohen side of the lawsuit is standing firm that Ortiz will not be fighting.
"They will have to agree [to our demands] and pay, otherwise Ortiz is not going to fight, '' the source said." The demand is clear and there is evidence that Ortiz did sign an agreement with Greg Cohen."
