Thursday, March 28, 2024  |

News

Aficianado

Ortiz-Ustinov won’t go to a purse bid after WBA is notified of a deal

Fighters Network
18
May
Photo: Tom Hogan - Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions

Photo: Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions

Heavyweights Luis Ortiz and Alexander Ustinov have a deal in place to meet later this year, Golden Boy vice president Eric Gomez told RingTV.com in a recent phone interview. The WBA had ordered a purse bid for May 19 in Panama for the fight. But Gomez said the WBA has been notified the sides have agreed in principle to a deal, so no purse bid will take place.

The venue and date are still being worked out, but Gomez said it will not take place overseas. HBO has been contacted to see if it will carry the bout. “We have a deal in place to do the fight here in the states,” Gomez said. “And we’re just finalizing the exact date. I’m working with HBO. HBO is definitely interested in the fight. And it’s being worked out right now.”

As for when the fight will take place, it’s still up in the air. “No idea,” Gomez said. “We’re ready to do it in June if we can, so it’s just a matter of working with HBO and we’re in talks right now so we’ll see what happens.”

Gomez is looking forward to Ortiz (25-0, 22 knockouts) returning to the ring after he stopped an overmatched Tony Thompson in six rounds in March. The 37-year-old southpaw ranked No. 5 in RING’S heavyweight rankings has a secondary WBA title and will defend it against his mandatory Ustinov (33-1, 24 KOs). The winner of their fight inches closer to facing the winner of RING/WBA/WBO titleholder Tyson Fury’s rematch with Wladimir Klitschko on July 9 as part of the WBA’s attempt to consolidate its three heavyweight titles.



“He’s one of our top guys and he’s got some momentum,” Gomez said. “He’s done very well in his last couple of fights on HBO and he’s developing a following so we’re excited about (him getting back in the ring).”

SIGN UP TO GET RING NEWS ALERTS