After boxing well through nine rounds, Whittaker (13-0-1, 9 KOs) came apart dramatically during the latter stages of the fight and spent the 12th round stumbling and tumbling around the ring as he waited for the final bell.

Whittaker won by unanimous decision to secure a spot as the mandatory challenger for Dmitry Bivol’s IBF world title. As well as the red and gold belt, 35-year-old Bivol, (25-1, 12 KOs) also holds The Ring, WBA and WBO straps and is preparing for a December 12 title defence against Callum Smith.

Immediately after the fight, Whittaker’s promoter Eddie Hearn said that he will take advantage of that timeline by keeping his man busy while Bivol and Smith settle their business.

Matchroom won’t be short of options when they compile a shortlist of potential opponents. The light heavyweight division is filled a variety of fringe contenders. Whittaker’s handlers just need to decide on which path to take.

Normally, this feature totally disregards promotional ties or broadcasting deals when suggesting fights but there are a couple of options we can safely take off the table.

Fights with Zuffa’s all-action Radiovje “Hot Rod” Kalajdzic (31-3, 22 KOs) or Boxxer’s big-punching Dutchman Gradus Kraus (12-0, 11 KOs) may seem like perfect match-ups but, for the time being, some trenches are dug so deep that there is little chance of either fight happening.

Here are three options for Whittaker’s next fight:

A well-edited highlight reel focusing on the final three rounds of Saturday’s fight could easily whip up interest in a rematch between Whittaker and Wallace but aside from allowing the former to do a better job, it makes the least sense of any option.

Whittaker controlled long portions of the fight without having to hit top gear. Wallace almost took advantage of the Wolverhampton man's late collapse but, overall, the Irishman didn’t make the most of his big night.

If Whittaker can win a world title, a return with Wallace would make a perfect sellable first defence. If Whittaker picks up a loss, a rematch would be an interesting fight for both men.

If Wallace is now deemed a threat, it seems extremely unlikely that Matchroom would risk their investment in such a fight. Whittaker clearly needs work so why not allow him to spend the next six months of his life wisely by matching him with a fighter who will take the initiative rather than allowing him to operate in his comfort zone.

Yarde won’t like the description but, after three unsuccessful world title challenges, he is now the ideal barometer for fighters hoping to succeed at world level.

Yarde wouldn’t set a high pace but the Londoner has a genuine physical presence and fight-ending power. Whittaker would need to remain concentrated for every second of the fight, a crucial quality he has yet to master.

The fight would do extremely good business in Britain and may appeal to Yarde who seems to be gearing himself up for one final assault on the world scene.

Whittaker is six years younger than Yarde and a win would be the biggest and most high profile of his career. It is exactly the type of fight to prepare Whittaker for world level. It certainly wouldn’t be easy but a win would do wonders for his standing and confidence.

A fight between Whitaker and Coe would be a make-or-break match up between promising but flawed contenders.

The 30-year-old from New Jersey has already had to regroup from his own setbacks. He was held to a draw in his second professional fight and, in November 2024, suffered a late stoppage loss to Manuel Gallegos. Just six months later, Coe set the record straight, stopping the Mexican in their rematch.

In January, Coe fell out of favor with Matchroom when he missed weight by eight pounds and then turned in an uninspiring performance against 36-year-old Jesse Hart. Matching him with someone like Whittaker would all but guarantee a whole-hearted effort.

In June, Whittaker made a successful American debut when he stopped Richard Rivera in two rounds at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

He enjoyed his trip across the Atlantic but he attracted a good number of fans to the Utilita Arena on Saturday and with British boxing desperate for charismatic headliners, he is likely to be kept in the UK. Bringing Coe in would be an interesting move and the winner would strengthen their position at 175.