By Rick Reeno

According to Russian promoter Vladimir Hryunov, Alexander Ustinov will NOT face WBA interim-heavyweight champion Luis Ortiz on September 17th in Texas, as part of the HBO Pay-Per-View card for former two division world champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez vs. Liam Smith.

The World Boxing Association had ordered Ortiz and Ustinov to face each other as part of a tournament to establish a single WBA champion in the division.

The winner of Ortiz-Ustinov is in line to take on the winner of the October showdown between WBA 'super' heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko at the Manchester Arena.

Hryunov claims Ortiz was problematic and imploded the entire fight.

"We are extremely disappointed to hear that despite agreeing terms, signing a contract and announcing a date for the WBA Interim Heavyweight Championship that Luis Ortiz is refusing to honour the agreement to fight on the 17th September and has withdrawn. Golden Boy Promotions have acted with integrity and in good faith and I hear that Ortiz is now negotiating a termination of his contract with Golden Boy," Hryunov said.

Hryunov, who is the manager of record for Ustinov, and wants to legally go after Ortiz for allegedly acting in bad faith.

"I want to sue. We spent a lot of money on training camp expenses and money for the visa [to travel to Las Vegas]. This is bad faith [on the part of Ortiz]," Hryunov told BoxingScene.com.

Ustinov [and Liam Smith] is promoted by Frank Warren.

Ortiz has a record of 25 wins (22 by KO) and no losses, and Ustinov has a tally of 33 wins (24 by KO) and one defeat.