Immediately after destroying Thailand’s Nathanon Thongchai, world No. 1 rated Filipino Regie Suganob called out reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) light-flyweight king Shokichi Iwata.

“Let’s make the fight happen,” said Suganob following his third-round knockout on Saturday in Tagbilaran, Bohol.

Suganob floored his game and gutsy but overpowered Thai rival five times, once in the first round, thrice in the second and once in the third canto, forcing the referee to call a halt to the carnage.

The win raised Suganob’s win-loss record to 16-1 with six knockouts but more importantly it boosted his stature among the 108-lb division’s finest contenders.

Even though he is not the mandatory challenger, a thrilled Suganob could not help but express his excitement over the prospects of securing a shot at Iwata.

Incidentally, Iwata is fresh from making the first defense of the crown last week with an equally easy stoppage win over Jairo Noriega of Spain in Osaka.

Suganob fights out of the PMI Boxing Stable of Bohol headed by lawyer Floriezyl Echavez Podot, whose outfit is the most active promotional company in the country next to MP Promotions and JC Mananquil’s Sanman Boxing of General Santos City.