By Jake Donovan

Juan "Churritos" Hernandez knew going into his showdown with Jesus Silvestre that a win could lead to (at least) one more big fight. What has transpired in the aftermath, however, has perhaps surpassed such expectations. 

The streaking flyweight contender from Mexico City has been linked as a potential candidate to land a dream assignment versus World flyweight king Roman 'Chocolatito' Gonzalez. The news leaked out shortly after Hernandez' Televisa-televised 2nd round knockout of Silvestre, flooring the former interim strawweight titlist four times in forcing the stoppage.

"Big things await Churritos, that's for sure," Promociones del Pueblo's Oswaldo Kuchle, Hernandez' promoter told BoxingScene.com, though not revealing specifics other than his desired weight class. "Saturday's fight came just above the flyweight limit, but (112) is where he plans to stay and fight for a world title."

News of Hernandez being in the hunt for a showdown with Gonzalez - regarded by many as the best fighter in the world, pound-for-pound - was confirmed by World Boxing Council (WBC) President Mauricio Sulaiman to a group of reporters on Monday. The subject came up while at a groundbreaking ceremony of El Gimnasio de Box Jose Sulaiman Chagnon, a gym dedicated to Mauricio's late father and former longtime WBC president. 

Hernandez accepted the Silvestre fight with the understanding that a title fight was in his future. The matchup was not a sanctioned eliminator, but adds to the current run he currently enjoys. The 28-year old boxer has now won 12 fights in a row following his lone title effort, a 12-round decision at the hands of then-unbeaten strawweight titlist Kazuto Ioka in 2011.

The title fight with Ioka came following back-to-back wins over Denver Cuello and Moises Fuentes. His current win streak doesn't carry quite the same polish, although boasts respectable wins over established boxers such as Saul 'Baby' Juarez, former strawweight titlst and now Silvestre. 

"He remains a tough challenge for any fighter in the world in the lower weight classes," Kuchle insists. "We have every bit of confidence that he will become a world champion, and hope that opportunity comes in 2016."

If it's a showdown with Gonzalez, the opportunity to at least fight for the title could come as early as April 23. The unbeaten flyweight king - who has won titles in three weight classes - is due to return to the ring on that date, with the event marking the third straight time he is featured on a show headlined by unbeaten, unified titlist Gennady Golovkin. 

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox