By Jake Donovan
Those who’ve patiently (some a lot more patient than most others) waited for Leo Santa Cruz to step up in class were no doubt pleased to hear of his potential showdown with Abner Mares. A date in late summer is being targeted between the two friendly rivals, with such a matchup discussed on and off for the past two years.
There’s only one small issue with Santa Cruz’s team exploring such a fight; they’re supposed to be negotiating the terms for his mandatory title defense.
The unbeaten 122 lb. titlist is due to next defend his belt versus Hugo Ruiz. The bout was ordered by the World Boxing Council earlier this month, with a purse bid hearing due to take place July 10 in the event the two sides cannot come to terms.
For now, Ruiz is playing the waiting game as his team figures out what would essentially become Plan C in absence of a shot at Santa Cruz.
“Leo Santa Cruz hasn’t decided if he will continue in the 122 lb. division, or move up (to face Mares),” noted Oswaldo Küchle, whose Promociones del Pueblo outfit represents Ruiz. “We are holding tight to see what his next move is.”
Ruiz (35-2, 31KOs) has won four straight since his lone career title shot, suffering a highly disputed points loss to Koki Kameda in their Dec. ’12 bantamweight title fight on the road in Japan. Though he’s remained unbeaten since then, the 28-year old from Los Mochis, Mexico has been out of the ring since last November, and is potentially looking at getting screwed out of a second big fight this year.
The hard-hitting contender was in line for a title eliminator versus Nonito Donaire, with Promociones del Pueblo even winning the purse bid for such an event. However, by that point Top Rank—who has promoted Donaire since 2008—announced its intentions of steering the former four-division champion in a different direction.
With Donaire’s withdrawal, Ruiz was elevated to mandatory challenger by default. He will remain first in line should the title become vacant, likely facing a countryman and fellow promotional stablemate. The #2 contender is China’s Qiu Xiao Jun, who is lined up for a fight at home in September. The next two contenders in line are Julio Ceja and unbeaten Rey Vargas, both of whom fight under the Promociones del Pueblo banner.
However, all bets are off until July 10 or until Santa Cruz decides on his own future.
“We are working out several things as a backup plan, but for now we are all tied up,” Küchle states. “We are ready for any scenario, but the priority is to face Leo Santa Cruz for the world title. We will continue to wait that out, as time is winding down before the deadline.”
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox