By Jake Donovan
Yet another promising matchup destined for a purse bid is now on the verge of falling by the wayside.
An ordered fight between Nonito Donaire and Hugo Ruiz – which was to determine the next mandatory challenger for unbeaten 122 lb. titlist Leo Santa Cruz – is scheduled to head to purse bid on Friday at the World Boxing Council (WBC) headquarters in Mexico City. However, Top Rank has informed ESPN.com of its plans to steer Donaire in a different direction, likely in a stay busy fight on its next show in Macau this coming July.
For now, Ruiz and his team are treating the situation as business as usual.
“We will continue with process of purse bid. and then they can decide to pass on Ruiz if they wish,” Oswaldo Kuchle of Promociones del Pueblo - Ruiz’ promoter – told BoxingScene.com.
Early rumors had a Donaire-Ruiz clash heading for the very July 18 Macau show on which Donaire will reportedly appear. However, Ruiz and his team made it clear that the fight never advanced beyond preliminary talks, and was always destined for a purse bid.
Such a clash would’ve presented a formidable challenger for Santa Cruz, or a leading candidate for a vacant title fight in the event that Santa Cruz moves up to featherweight. Ruiz seeks to land that role, with or without the opportunity to fight Donaire.
“We will now ask the WBC to consider Ruiz for the mandatory challenger for Leo Santa Cruz,” Kuchle said in speaking to the possibility of Donaire formally declining the fight. “We trust that the board of governors of the WBC will decide what’s best for the division.”
Santa Cruz last defended his 122 lb. title, scoring an 8th round stoppage of Jesus Ruiz (no relation to Hugo). His most recent ring appearance came in May, outpointing Jose Cayetano over 10 rounds in their featherweight bout, which served as the chief support to Floyd Mayweather’s 12-round win over Manny Pacquiao in the richest event in boxing history.
Ruiz (35-2, 31KOs) is riding a four-fight win streak since a controversial 12-round split decision loss to then-bantamweight titlist Koki Kameda. Each of his last two fights ended inside of a round, having fought less than five full minutes since Sept. ’13.
Donaire (34-3, 22KOs) dropped back down to junior featherweight following a brutal knockout loss to Nicholas Walters last October. The former World 122 lb. champion enjoyed a successful return at his old weight, stopping overmatched William Prado in two rounds this past March.
The bout came with the agreement that Donaire would be placed in the Top 3 in the WBC, although a negotiating point proved for naught should Top Rank opt to steer him in a different direction.
“We will see what happens on Friday,” Kuchle says with a cautious tone. “Maybe they show up to the purse bid after all. We will be prepared for any scenario and then go from there.”
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox