Andres Cortes isn’t lacking options in terms of which path he could take in his pursuit of his first world title shot.

Cortes is ranked No. 6 by the WBO, No. 8 by the WBC, and No. 13 by the IBF at junior lightweight. If everything were to break right for him, though, his first chance at a world title could come against one of boxing’s most fan-friendly champions, WBO 130-pound beltholder Emanuel Navarrete.

“I think it's the most exciting fight,” Cortes told The Ring. “I definitely want the hardest fights, and I'm one of those fighters who truthfully mean it. I don't want to pick and choose who I fight. I want the hardest fights out there, and I think that would make for the most exciting fight. I think everybody would love to see that.”

First, Cortes (23-0, 12 KOs) has to handle business when he faces Derlyn Hernandez-Gerarldo in a 10-round junior lightweight bout on a DMG Boxing’s card, Night of Champions V, on Saturday at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California. The card will be streamed on Millions.co.

Cortes, of Henderson, Nevada, is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Salvador Jimenez on May 10 after a nearly one-year layoff. Given the current state of the 130-pound division, where and when Cortes is going to get the opportunity he wants remains a huge question mark. Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs, 1 NC) and Charly Suarez still have business with one another after their first meeting on May 10 was overturned from a Navarrete unanimous decision victory to a no contest when Suarez (18-0, 10 KOs, 1 NC) should have won by stoppage due to cuts.

The WBA likely also has to reconcile with WBA junior lightweight champion Lamont Roach Jr. (25-1-2, 12 KOs) moving up to 140 pounds to face Isaac Cruz (28-3-1, 18 KOs) for his interim WBC junior welterweight title on Dec. 6.

Regardless of how things shake out, Cortes knows he can’t just win another ho hum decision against Hernandez-Gerarldo (13-4-1, 11 KOs) if he’s going to earn the big fight he’s seeking.

“I'm definitely looking for a knockout,” Cortes said. “[In] boxing, [you] need exciting wins. They need exciting things to get noticed, and I know that. I'm going in there looking for a knockout.”

Cortes, 28, and Hernandez-Gerarldo, 32, of the Dominican Republic, share one common opponent in Bryan Chevalier. Cortes stopped Chevalier (21-3-1, 16 KOs) in the fourth round in February of last year, while Hernandez-Gerarldo stopped him in the third round this past March. The stoppage win over Chevalier represents Hernandez-Gerarldo's lone victory in his last four fights, while Cortes snapped Chevalier’s win streak at 12.

Cortes is confident he'll take another step toward his goal against Hernandez-Gerarldo.

“We’re on two different skill levels,” he said. “I'm definitely a much higher tier, and definitely his toughest fight. … I’m going out there and dropping bombs, and expect a knockout.”