By Jake Donovan

Boxing fans and media like have eagerly awaited the long-awaited featherweight showdown between Abner Mares and Leo Santa Cruz. A fight that has drawn as much praise is the televised opener between Julio Ceja and Hugo Ruiz.

The pair of free swinging knockout artists from Mexico will contend for an interim version of the super bantamweight title still in Santa Cruz’ possession. Both bouts air live in primetime on ESPN (Saturday, 10:00 p.m. ET) from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, as part of the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) series.

The winner of the super bantamweight clash—in which both fighters fight in the U.S. for the first time in their respective careers—will be the mandatory challenger for Santa Cruz. In the event that Santa Cruz opts to not return to the super bantamweight division—win, lose or draw versus Mares—the winner will then be named super bantamweight champ.

Ceja (29-1, 26KOs) suffered his only loss in his lone title fight to date, dropping a heartbreaking decision to Jamie McDonnel in their May ’13 vacant bantamweight title fight on the road in England. The 22-year old knockout artist from Mexico has since won five straight, including a 10-round decision over countryman Oscar Blanquet in his most recent fight this past March.

Ruiz (35-2, 31KOs) previously claimed an interim bantamweight title, but—like Ceja—came up short contending for the real thing in his opponent’s backyard. The free-swinging slugger from boxing-rich Los Mochis, Mexico gave Koki Kameda all that he could handle in dropping a disputed split decision in their Dec. ’12 clash in Osaka, Japan.

Just four fights have followed and none since last November, though hardly by his own doing. Ruiz—who turns 29 in September—saw two separate ordered fights fall by the wayside.

Ruiz’ promoter, Promociones del Pueblo, won the purse bid for a final elimination bout with former four-division champion Nonito Donaire. However, the matter became a non-starter, as Top Rank was already steering Donaire for a fight in Macau (which he won), followed by plans to a desired showdown with unbeaten super bantamweight titlist Scott Quigg later this year.

Rather than order another eliminator, it was decided that Ruiz would earn a mandatory title shot by default. However, Santa Cruz’ decision to move up to featherweight to face Mares left Ruiz to settle for a consolation prize in the form of his dangerous clash with Ceja.

Read on to see how the staff at BoxingScene.com believes the perceived coin-flip super bantamweight clash plays out Saturday evening in Los Angeles.

BOXINGSCENE.COM STAFF PREDICTIONS: HUGO RUIZ vs. JULIO CEJA

Jake Donovan (Ceja Dec): Both fighters have genuine power, but also take a hell of a shot. Whereas I’m going with the more experienced and naturally larger fighter in the main event (Mares over Santa Cruz), I believe Ceja is a bit more resourceful, and edges a decision in a 12-round war.

Michael Gibbons (Ceja Dec): Close fight, but I think Ceja takes it here.

Takahiro Onaga (Ceja SD): This look like the bout of the weekend and both really can fight. This probably going to be 12 round war that is better fight than main event.

Cliff Rold (Ceja Dec): This could be a real sleeper gem on the undercard. I like Ceja here but Ruiz is a gritty vet and he's still got some in the tank.

Victor Salazar (Ceja late TKO): Even though Mares-Santa Cruz is the headline fight for the PBC on ESPN card, this might equal or surpass it in terms of action. The two guys will go to war and I’m going to lean Ceja by late stoppage.

Alexey Sukachev (Ceja KO5): Both fighters are so heavy-handed that I cannot see this contest going its full distance. From what I saw Ceja is more durable of the two and he also looks to be a slightly bigger puncher. I'm going with him.

Staff Totals:
Ceja–6; Ruiz–0

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