By Rick Reeno

The immediate future of Cuban heavyweight Luis Ortiz (25-0, 22KOs) will finally get some light on Monday, when his mandatory fight with Alexander Ustinov (33-1, 24KOs) heads to a purse bid in Panama.

Ortiz, who holds the WBA's interim title, was ordered by the sanctioning body to face Ustinov as part their tournament to establish a single champion in the weight class. The victor of that contest will go up against the winner of the October rematch between WBA 'super' champion Tyson Fury and challenger Wladimir Klitschko.

Ortiz was scheduled to face Ustinov on September 17th, as part of the HBO Pay-Per-View undercard to Canelo Alvarez vs. Liam Smith. The contest fell apart after a business dispute erupted between Ortiz's co-promoters Dade Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions.

Dade Promotions are apparently trying to negotiate a buyout, where they would reclaim 50% of Ortiz's promotional rights from Golden Boy.

According to Jay Jiminez, manager of Ortiz, they are caught in the middle of this promotional dispute. They personally have no issue with Golden Boy, but are sitting back while the two promotional entities work out their differences.

"We might come off the promotional with Golden Boy, but we're not sure. We're negotiating. We'll know by next week, maybe on Monday," Jiminez told BoxingScene.com. "Golden Boy has been great to us. It's something more between the promotional companies. Dade Promotions is also part of Luis' promotional team. It's something between them. Dade sorts of wants to go their own route and get into the game. Golden Boy has been great to me and Ortiz. We want to stay with them."

"We get along great with Eric [Gomez] and Oscar [De La Hoya]. They were great to us and paid us well. I think it might be about someone wanting to take the lead. Maybe it gets fixed and we stay with Oscar. Sometimes in boxing, there are little things that get overlooked and two sides have a different opinion. If it does happen, it will be said if we walk away from Golden Boy because it wasn't really [an issue on our part]. I think the other promoter felt the money wasn't right for Ortiz, not for a fighter of that caliber with his record and so many knockouts. Ortiz would be the first Cuban heavyweight champion ever. A fighter of that caliber, who could leave that kind of history behind, I think Dade Promotions thought Luis was not treated fairly and not given enough promotion at least. It may not have been as much the money as it was the promotion."

"Dade Promotions has always been Luis' main promoter from day one. I'm gonna do my best to keep Luis in the best hands possible. It's not always the money as much as who really wants to take care of him and put him where he belongs. He's got the star power. He needs to learn a little more English, but he's got the star power. He's got the talent to be a Muhammad Ali and then some, if we ever get the chance to fight Wilder and Joshua."

There have been industry rumblings that Roc Nation Sports are interested in working with Ortiz. Jiminez has heard these rumblings as well, and he wouldn't be surprised if Roc Nation takes part in Monday's purse bid.

"I heard that too. They never reached out to us. I guess they are sitting back to see what happens. Roc Nation is a great company," Jiminez said.

Regardless of the promotional outcome, Jiminez is hoping to get the Ustinov fight in order by Tuesday.

"The fight with [Ustinov] is going to a purse bid on Monday. That's why we're waiting until next week [to see what the promotional situation will be]. We're stuck in the middle, Luis as a fighter and me as his manager. The two promoters haven't gotten it together, Dade and Golden Boy. We're waiting on purse bids. Anyone can go and put a bid. We're hoping it takes place in the United States so we can showcase Ortiz. We'll fight anywhere, but we would rather stay at home. If the money is right and they win the purse bid, we'll fight wherever we've got to fight. We're not going to walk away," Jiminez said.