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Interim WBA Heavyweight Champion Luis Ortiz and mandatory challenger Alexander Ustinov have come to terms for their long-ordered title bout, precluding the need for a purse bid that was set for May 19th. The two intend to fight in August or September on an HBO show, with the victor eventually facing the winner of Tyson Fury vs. Wladimir Klitschko for the WBA "Super" title.
Golden Boy VP Eric Gomez told ESPN that the fight would take place in the United States, although he did not offer anything more specific.
As mentioned in the announcement article, Ortiz's obligation to face Ustinov stems from the agreement that allowed "The Real King Kong" to take on Bryant Jennings, so it's not the usual case of intentionally feeding a knockout artist someone who will make him look good. That's not to say Ustinov (33-1, 24 KO) won't make Ortiz (25-0, 22 KO) look good, however. Being a large, immobile target against a precise power-puncher rarely ends well.
Ideally, the planned winner vs. winner fight will go through and aid the WBA's effort to reduce the number of belts in play. No telling how the "regular" belt, currently held by Lucas Browne pending the outcome of his drug test debacle, will come into play.