A recent ruling by the WBO could aid Rene Santiago to receive a second title shot in just over a year.

All Star Boxing, Inc., Santiago’s promoter, successfully lobbied for its fighter to be named as the WBO junior flyweight mandatory challenger. The distinction is important, as it would clear a path for a potential showdown with the sanctioning body’s reigning titlist Shokichi Iwata, The Ring’s No. 2 108-pound contender.

The ruling—which was made on Wednesday and revealed to the media on Friday—saw Santiago (13-4, 9 KOs) leapfrog WBO No. 1 contender Regie Suganob (16-1, 6 KOs) for the honors.

Suganob, The Ring’s No 8 junior flyweight, was previously rumored to land a shot at Iwata. However, The Ring has learned that his next fight will come against an opponent outside the WBO top ten—a recurring theme which saw him lose out on the chance to force a title shot.

“Mr. Santiago has faced three world-rated contenders over a two-year period,” WBO Championship Committee chairman Luis Batista Salas explained in a ruling provided to The Ring. “His last five out of six opponents have participated in world championship fights. Additionally, he has won the WBO Latino and International Jr. Flyweight titles, the WBO Interim Jr. Flyweight Championship, and has successfully defended his rating position at least once during 2023 and 2024. This last criterion is pivotal to our ruling today.

“Whereas Mr. Regie Suganob, as the number one world-rated contender in the Jr. Flyweight Division, must comply with §8 of the World Boxing Organization Regulations of World Championship Contests… The record shows that Mr. Suganob’s fights within the last year have been against unrated opponents, which does not satisfy this critical criterion.

“The rules clearly state that it is the responsibility of each classified boxer to understand the WBO and ABC Criteria for Ratings, to meet the necessary criteria, and to keep the WBO Classification Committee informed of all facts relevant to their rating.”

Santiago has won five of his past six starts, all in WBO-sanctioned bouts. His lone defeat was a twelve-round decision to then-WBO 108 pound titlist Jonathan 'Bomba' Gonzalez last March 2 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Suganob has won three straight fights since a July 2023 loss to then-IBF titlist Sivenathi Nontshinga (11-0 at the time). As noted in the WBO ruling, all have come against unranked and made-to-order opposition.

As previously reported by The Ring, Iwata (14-1, 11 KOs) is due to land on the undercard of the Kenshiro Teraji-Seigo Yuri Akui WBA/WBC flyweight title unification clash. The event is budgeted for mid-March in Tokyo.

Santiago emerged as a potential leading candidate even before the WBO ruling. Such a fight would help Iwata clear a mandatory and then target a unification bout at the weight—with a win, of course.

Iwata won the vacant WBO 108-pound title in a third-round knockout over then-unbeaten Jairo Noriega (14-0, 3 KOs) last Oct. 13 in Tokyo. His title haul came on the same night that saw Teraji (24-1, 15 KOs) and Akui (21-2-1, 11 KOs) post wins.

Whereas Teraji and Akui already know their fate, Iwata is still without a confirmed dance partner for the March date.