Whittaker defeated Conor Wallace by unanimous decision at Birmingham's Utilita Arena, winning an IBF final eliminator and putting himself in position for a shot at the light heavyweight championship.

The official scores were 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113.

For most of the fight, Whittaker looked every bit like the future world champion many believe he can become. He was faster, sharper and technically superior. He controlled the distance, landed the cleaner punches and built a comfortable lead while Wallace struggled to consistently close the gap.

Then everything began to change in the last few rounds. Wallace began finding success and badly hurt Whittaker. By the 12th, Whittaker wasn't thinking about entertaining the crowd or making a statement — he was trying to survive, and he did.

That performance shouldn't be viewed as a disaster. Whittaker had never gone 12 before. In fact, entering the fight, his previous three opponents had lasted a combined 426 seconds.

There is an enormous difference between looking spectacular while blowing opponents away and figuring out what to do when you're exhausted, hurt and an opponent refuses to go away.

Whittaker learned something about himself on Saturday night. And his team should learn something, too

There is absolutely no reason to rush him.

Whittaker is the IBF mandatory challenger, but that doesn't mean his next fight needs to be against the winner of champion Dmitry Bivol and former beltholder Callum Smith.

The opportunity may not arrive immediately anyway. Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn has already indicated Whittaker will likely need another fight, which he explained may not happen until next summer at the earliest.

That's probably the best thing that could happen to him.

Whittaker is 29, but his professional career is still relatively young. He's 13-0-1, and Wallace represented a major step forward in competition.

There is a temptation in boxing to look at someone's age and assume the clock is ticking. But Whittaker isn't a fighter who has been through numerous wars. He doesn't have 30 professional fights. He isn't carrying years of punishment.

He is still learning. Let him learn. Wallace exposed areas that need work, particularly when Whittaker becomes tired and an opponent begins applying sustained pressure.

Whittaker himself admitted afterward that things became too easy and he lost some of his concentration. His trainer Andy Lee also revealed that Whittaker had been dealing with COVID only a week before the fight, which could certainly help explain why his energy disappeared so dramatically late.

Maybe the illness was the primary reason, and maybe it wasn't.

Either way, there is nothing wrong with finding out before putting him in with one of the best light heavyweights in the world.

A rematch with Wallace is one possibility.

Whittaker dominated enough of the first fight to deserve the decision, but Wallace left Birmingham believing he had discovered something. He knows he can hurt Whittaker. He knows he can pressure him. And next time, he probably won't wait until the final few rounds to really start trying.

That creates an entirely different psychological challenge for Whittaker.

However, nobody is screaming to get a second helping of that contest.

Hearn mentioned Anthony Yarde and the Joshua Buatsi-Willy Hutchinson winner among the other possibilities. Those are attractive fights, dangerous fights. There is no reason Whittaker needs to jump directly into them.

Give him another solid opponent, preferably someone durable enough to take him rounds, experienced enough to create problems and dangerous enough that Whittaker has to remain switched on. If he comes away with the win, then reassess the next move.

The biggest mistake would be allowing Whittaker's popularity to dictate his development. He has tremendous ability, an Olympic silver medal and plenty of charisma. His flashy style and showmanship have also made him a big attraction with British fans.

But being a star and being ready to beat the elite fighters at 175 pounds are two completely different things. Wallace was the type of fight Whittaker needed. Another second-round knockout wouldn't have taught him very much.

Whittaker experienced exhaustion, had to fight while hurt, heard the crowd change as the momentum shifted and had to survive when things suddenly stopped going according to plan. Those experiences are how fighters develop. Now give him another one.

There will be plenty of time for Bivol, Smith, Yarde, Buatsi and the other major names in the division. Whittaker doesn't need the biggest possible fight next. He needs the right fight.

Wallace proved that there is still some work to do before we find out Whittaker's true potential.