By Jake Donovan
For as long as Leo Santa Cruz has been a 122 lb. champion, he’s yet to make a mandatory defense. Rather, the unbeaten boxer from Mexico has been afforded a steady stream of glorified sparring sessions (ironically which occasionally can be found in mandatory title defenses), despite his serving in one of the deepest divisions in the sport today.
More of the same figures to be in store for Santa Cruz’ showcase placement in the chief support to the May 2 super fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Barring a surprise that Abner Mares’ dream is granted of landing the fight, fans are not waiting in anticipation for a notable name on the B-side of the attraction, on a night that will go down as the most lucrative in boxing history.
One fighter who has been patiently waiting in the wings for a crack at Santa Cruz is in fact his top-rated contender, Mexico’s Hugo Ruiz. The power-puncher from Los Mochis was elevated to the #1 spot in the World Boxing Council (WBC) rankings when countryman and previous mandatory Andres Gutierrez opted to campaign in the featherweight division.
Santa Cruz faced a Ruiz in his last fight, lesser regarded Jesus Ruiz whom he stopped in the 8th round of their January meet at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The May 2 bout against an opponent – and at a weight – to be determined will mark his fourth straight appearance at the venue and third straight year in which Santa Cruz appears on the undercard of a Mayweather event.
Both fighters are advised by Al Haymon, an alliance that obviously comes with its share of privileges. Santa Cruz continues to live the life, but questions are being asked about when he will step it up in competition. With fighters such as Guillermo Rigondeaux, Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg – all of whom are unbeaten titlists (Rigondeaux also the division’s World champ) – at the top at 122 lbs., and contenders such as Ruiz and returning Nonito Donaire a notch below, it’s a fair question.
For now, Ruiz and his team remains patient in waiting on an answer, but not for much longer.
“We will formally request the WBC to name Hugo Ruiz as the mandatory challenger to Leo Santa Cruz,” informed Oswaldo Küchle of Promociones del Pueblo, Ruiz’ promoter. “We have been avoided and we will address as such in a letter to WBC President and the board of governors.”
Ruiz (35-2, 31KOs) has won four straight since a narrow, debatable points loss in Dec. ’12 to then-bantamweight titlist Koki Kameda on the road in Japan. His lone two bouts of 2014 have resulted in 1st round knockouts, neither coming against the type of competition that demands a title fight.
Still, rules are rules, and Ruiz sits in a position that indicate a title shot is not only due, but that Santa Cruz has been on the hook for nearly a year. While Ruiz’ team is smart enough to know not to expect such an opportunity to surface in the next 2½ weeks, there’s no reason to not call next on the court.
“We understand that Leo has been included in the May 2nd Mayweather-Pacquiao show and we understand that is a great opportunity for Leo to showcase his talent in a huge event,” acknowledges Küchle. “So we will request that - after May 2nd - Hugo Ruiz be named a mandatory challenger.”
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
