By Osiris Mendez Cruz

Cesar Juarez (17-3, 13KOs), who captured the vacant WBO international super bantamweight title last month with a win over former champion Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr., is now ranked in the top spot and feels ready for a mandatory shot at WBO/WBA champion Guillermo Rigondeaux.

Prior to the win over Sanchez, Juarez scored an upset decision win over tough Puerto Rican contender Cesar Seda in March.

Juarez, 23-years-old, also had a lot of success in the amateur ranks, when he defeated hot prospect Oscar Valdez for the national title in Mexico. The fighter's career is guided by Sean Gibbons, who also works with Gilberto Ramirez and Orlando Salido.

"I was three-time national champion. In one of those finals, I beat Oscar Valdez. I recall it was in 2006 in Tlaxcala. As an amateur, I won 106 fights and lost six," Juarez said.

"I am a person who has worked hard for I want. Now I have a major title in an organization and that has opened the doors. Now I want the world title, but I know that it depends on my promoters, when they tell me. What is certain is that I will be ready for that fight."

Gibbons hopes they can get a shot at Rigondeaux next.

"It seems that Rigondeaux might go to featherweight. I heard he wants a fight against [Vasyl] Lomachenko [for the WBO featherweight championship]. We will wait for his decision in the coming weeks. We want César to fight in October or November and if it's a world title, even better," Juarez said.

"Caesar is number one in the division and that puts him in line to challenge for the title. If the championship is vacant, it is very likely we'll face another highly rated fighter. But let's wait to see what happens in the next few days."