Leo Santa Cruz vs. Jesus Ruiz: Winner, Recap and Reaction

World Boxing Council super bantamweight champion Leo "Terremoto" Santa Cruz successfully defended his title via eighth-round TKO victory over Jesus Ruiz on Saturday night.

Early in the bout, Ruiz proved to be game and determined. He launched a steady body attack that achieved some early success. However, Santa Cruz was consistent and poised in the early firefight. 

He put in his own work on Ruiz's midsection. The 26-year-old champion proved to have more starch on his punches and gas in his tank than Ruiz. By the sixth round, the challenger had slowed down considerably.

In the seventh, Santa Cruz hurt Ruiz just before the close of the round. While he escaped the frame, the end would come quickly in the eighth.

A vicious combination and relentless attack caused referee Kenny Bayless to step in and call a halt to the action. Boxing Scene seemed to question the stoppage:

However, Boxing Channel saw it as a good decision by the veteran official:

Ruiz didn't seem to have a way to win the fight. When that's the case, it's always better to stop a one-sided bout. There's no need to allow a courageous fighter—with no chance to win—to suffer unnecessary damage.

Mick Akers of Fight Hub TV showed us the lopsided CompuBox numbers:

Ruiz came into the fight with 33 wins, but he earned most of them against unknown competition. When he stepped up his level of opposition, it was clear his skill level paled in comparison to Santa Cruz's. He showed heart and effort, but he was simply in with a superior fighter.

John Locher/Associated Press

Santa Cruz's 29th victory should be his last over an opponent who appears to be totally overmatched on paper. The crowd-pleasing fighter is in a position where beating up another tomato won't win him any new fans.

It's time to up the ante.

Many would love to see him face World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Association super champion Guillermo Rigondeaux, but Terremoto seems to be eyeing a British champion next.

Per James Robson of the Manchester Evening News, Santa Cruz respects WBA regular champion Scott Quigg, but he has his eye on a bout with International Boxing Federation titleholder Carl Frampton. Santa Cruz said: "A fight with Quigg and guys like that does interest me, but the No. 1 fight for me right now is Carl Frampton. He comes forward. He looks stronger and has better shots and more skill. Quigg is a great fighter too, but if you had to pick between the both of them, Frampton is the much better fighter."

If that fight is indeed next for Santa Cruz, he should be in for his biggest test yet. Frampton has knocked out 13 of the 19 men he's faced. He possesses good hand speed, and he punches from different angles. Stylistically, it could be a tough fight for Terremoto.

The winner would be poised to take a step up the pound-for-pound list.

Frampton must defeat Chris Avalos on Feb. 28 to keep his appeal as an opponent, title and standing among the division's elite. Santa Cruz took care of his end Saturday night.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA.