By Rick Reeno
Vlad Hryunov, manager of heavyweight contender Alexander Ustinov (33-1, 24 KOs), advised BoxingScene.com that Russia and Belarus are the leading candidates to host his fighter's mandatory bout with WBA interim-champion Luis Ortiz (25-0, 22 KOs).
Ustinov's handlers secured the promotional rights on 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.
BoxingScene reported on 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.
"Right now the fight is going to take place in Russia, or potentially in Belarus. There has never been a world heavyweight title fight in Belarus, so that would be a very good location and it would be a big event over there. In a few days I will meet with Andrey Rysbibsky to discuss the event and we will talk about staging it in Russia or Belarus," Hryunov told BoxingScene.com.
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.
"Anything is possible, but they would have to pay a lot of money for that. We're looking at Russia and Belarus, but if they make a very good offer to us - anything is possible," Hryunov said.