By Kaz Nagatsuka

Ariake Colosseum, Japan - London Olympic middleweight gold medalist Ryota Murata is hoping to jump into a world title in 2017.

He returned on Friday, and looked fierce in dropping Mexican opponent Bruno Sandoval to the canvas with a right in the third round to post a KO victory.

“My opponent today was the strongest (among the four I faced this year), so it gave me confidence,” said Murata, who improved his pro record to 12-0, 9 KOs.

Asked if he’d like to challenge for a world title soon, he quickly responded, saying, “I want to do it next.”

Murata debuted as a pro at Ariake in 2013, but he said that he wasn’t in a position to say he’d aim for a world championship at that time. Three years later, however, he feels he’s finally reached a point he can say so.

Akihiko Honda, Murata’s gym boss at Teiken Gym, said that the boxer would have a legitimate chance of challenging WBO middleweight champ Billy Joe Saunders (24-0, 12 KOs).

At the moment WBO junior middleweight king Saul "Canelo" Alvarez is the mandatory challenger to Saunders. He was placed in that position last week by the sanctioning body. Honda added that if a speculated Saul “Canelo” Alvarez-Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. bout happens, it means Alvarez won’t fight against Saunders and Saunders could meet Murata instead.

Also on Saturday's card, London Olympic bantamweight bronze medalist Satoshi Shimizu landed a perfect right to earn a third-round KO over the Philippines’ Carlo Pepito Demecillo in his second pro bout.

“I perfectly hit his chin with my right between my index and middle fingers,” Shimizu said. “I’m pleased I was able to entertain the fans a little bit, though I wanted to fight a little longer.”