By Jake Donovan

Hugo Ruiz and Julio Ceja both checked well within the tolerable limit for their 30-day safety weight check ahead of their August 29 interim junior featherweight title clash in Los Angeles, California.

Fighters involved in any WBC-sanctioned fight are required to perform weight checks 30 days and 7 days from fight night. At the 30-day point, fighters cannot weigh more than 10% of the contracted weight; the limit drops to 5% over the contracted weight at the 7-day checkpoint.

With the August 29 fight taking place at 122 lbs., Ruiz and Ceja cannot weigh any more than 134 lbs. Ruiz (35-2, 31KOs) weighed a trim and ready 129 lbs, while Ceja came in slightly heavier but still at a lean 130 lbs.

The bout will serve in supporting capacity to the headlining bout between Leo Santa Cruz and Abner Mares, live in primetime on ESPN. The winner of Ruiz vs. Ceja will be guaranteed one of two things: either a crack at Santa Cruz—should he decide to ever again defend his 122 lb. title, regardless of how he fares versus Mares—or ownership of the full version of the title in the event Santa Cruz officially vacates.

Ruiz has won four straight since his lone title challenge, a debatable 12-round loss to then-bantamweight titlist Koko Kameda in Dec. 12. He has been out of the ring since last November, awaiting the opportunity to fight for the title.

The 28-year old was in line to face Nonito Donaire in a final eliminator. The bout went to a purse bid, won by Promociones del Pueblo—Ruiz' promoter. It was all for naught, however, as Donaire's handlers instead opted for a stay-busy bout in Macau, which was relegated to same-day tape-delay status on UniMas in the United States, a far cry from the former four-division champ's days as an HBO headliner.

With the canceled purse bid, Ruiz was moved into the mandatory position by default. When Santa Cruz' handlers outlined a deal in order to move forward with the Mares fight, an interim belt was freed up as well as an undercard slot on the August 29 show.

Like Ruiz, Ceja is also a former bantamweight title challenger. The lone loss of his career came in such capacity, dropping a heartbreaking decision to Jamie McDonnell in their May '13 vacant title fight. The 22-year old slugger has since won five straight, including a 10-round decision over Oscar Blanquet in March.

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox