Stecca to Fight Cruz for a Shot at Callejas’ Title

Former World Boxing Assn. junior featherweight champions Loris Stecca of Italy and Leo Cruz of the Dominican Republic will meet here June 16, with the winner to get a shot at the title within 90 days.

The bout will be on the undercard of current WBA junior featherweight champion Victor Callejas’ second defense of the title, against James Pipps of Texas, Salinas Sports Promotion spokeswoman Ivonne Class said. Pipps is ranked No. 9 in the bantamweight division by the WBA.

Cruz lost the title to Stecca on Feb. 22, 1984, in Milan, when the referee stopped the fight at 2:22 of the 12th round. Stecca, who got the chance to challenge Cruz on condition that his first defense be against Callejas in Puerto Rico, lost the title to the Puerto Rican junior featherweight on May 26 of the same year in Callejas’ home town of Guaynabo. The two former champions are currently ranked No. 1 and 2, respectively, by the WBA.

Callejas made his first defense of the title last Feb. 2 in San Juan, winning a controversial 15-round decision from then top-ranked challenger Seung-Hoon Lee of South Korea.

Cruz has fought only twice since losing the junior featherweight title to Stecca, looking sluggish on both occasions. His trainer has suggested publicly that it might be time for the 32-year-old former champion to retire.