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Home » Fight Updates: Santa Cruz-Ruiz; Bundrage-Charlo; Chagaev-Pianeta

Fight Updates: Santa Cruz-Ruiz; Bundrage-Charlo; Chagaev-Pianeta

The Organisation had ruled that Ruiz must face Nonito Donaire for the right to meet Santa Cruz, although the Filipino pulled out of purse bids last Friday and the bout is now off the table.

“WBC has been notified by Top Rank Promotions that Nonito Donaire will not fight against Hugo Ruiz in a bout ordered by the WBC as a final elimination to determine the mandatory contender of the super-bantamweight division. Consequently, Hugo Ruiz has been appointed mandatory contender to fight WBC champion Leo Santa Cruz,” the WBC told World Boxing News.

On July 25 at a venue to be determined, Cornelius ‘K9’ Bundrage will begin his second reign as champion against up and comer Jermall Charlo. Bundrage took the title from Carlos Molina in October and is now pitted against 21-0 Charlo in the summer.

Charlo was lined up to challenge Molina himself, although the contest fell through due to legal troubles for the ex-champion and the 25 year-old now gets his maiden title chance against the wily Bundrage on the back of some impressive performances.

Two weeks prior on July 11, WBA heavyweight title holder Ruslan Chagaev is scheduled to fight Francesco Pianeta in Madgeburg, Germany following a ring absence of ten months. ‘The White Tyson’ defeated Fres Oquendo to reclaim his old belt, but has since been involved in a legal dispute over an alleged unpaid purse.

Oquendo recently applied successfully in the US for an injunction to stop Chagaev facing anyone other than himself, although at this point in time there is nothing to suggest that the fight with Pianeta is not going ahead as planned.

The encounter will represent a second top division title shot for Italian-born German Pianeta who lost to Wladimir Klitschko in 2013 – but has since won three bouts on the spin as the southpaw secured another attempt at a world crown.