By Jake Donovan

While little can be done to alleviate the concerns of those who feel boxing has missed out on a heavyweight superfight, the good news is that the titles won’t be any more fragmented than is presently the case.

The industry is still reveling in the amount of attention generated from Andy Ruiz’s historic 7th round knockout of Anthony Joshua this past Saturday at New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden. Ruiz (33-1, 22KOs) became the first-ever boxer of Mexican descent to lay claim to the heavyweight throne and will have the chance to defend his multiple titles without interference from the sanctioning bodies.

As previously reported by BoxingScene.com, Joshua (22-1, 21KOs) and promoter Eddie Hearn have already agreed to exercise a rematch clause in the fight contract. Concerns quickly surfaced over whether Ruiz would have any of his titles stripped in exchange for honoring such a bout, but that won’t be an issue as none of the sanctioning bodies are yet in a position to order their mandatories.

As is the case with unified titlist, there exists a rotation for when the alphabet organizations can claim their place in line. Waiting in the wings are mandatory challengers for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and International Boxing Federation (IBF), which are due in that order and neither are expected to be ordered before September.

The IBF in particular has a reputation for being a stickler for the rules, almost to a fault as it resulted in its title being freed from Tyson Fury’s clutches following his Nov. 2015 upset win over Wladimir Klitschko. The sanctioning body immediately ordered Fury to defend versus Vyacheslav Glazkov, which came at the same time Klitschko exercised his rematch clause.

Naturally, Fury chose to pursue the more lucrative fight—a rematch with Klitschko—which freed up the IBF title that would eventually land in the lap of Joshua. For this matter at least, there doesn’t exist any chance of history repeating itself.

“The WBO is next up in the rotation of mandatory challengers,” IBF spokesperson Jeanette Salazar confirmed to BoxingScene.com on Tuesday.

The rotation works out for all parties involved. The IBF mandatory is Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev, who actually had a tentative agreement in place to face Joshua in England had the previously unbeaten Brit prevailed on Saturday.

The fight taking place overseas would not have affected the current suspension in place with the California State Athletic Commission, with whom the current top contender is due to meet at the next hearing in July. From there it will be determined whether his federal license will be restored, which will permit him to fight anywhere in the United States.

The WBO currently has England’s Dillian Whyte as its top-rated contender, although not necessarily the true mandatory. World cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk—who until earlier this year also held all of the major titles in the division—holds “Super” Champion status with the WBO, which entitles him to pursue a title fight at any weight of his choosing.

The unbeaten Ukrainian was due to make his heavyweight debut in May, after which he hoped to pursue a title shot versus Joshua. Those plans went up in flames when he suffered a torn biceps and was forced to withdraw from the May 25 show. He still plans to fight at heavyweight, presumably later this year though not in a straightaway title fight.

Meanwhile, Whyte is preparing for a dangerous showdown versus unbeaten Oscar Rivas on July 20 in London, England. The Jamaica-born, London-based heavyweight has won nine straight since his lone defeat—a 7th round stoppage at the hands of Joshua in Dec. 2015 when both were unbeaten rising prospects.

The biggest challenge for Whyte as of late has been enforcing his mandatory status with any sanctioning body. He is number one with the WBO as well as the World Boxing Council (WBC)—whose title has been held by unbeaten knockout artist Deontay Wilder since Jan. 2015—but has never been designated by either as the next mandated challenger.

Chances are, that won’t change regardless of what happens in his fight with Rivas, which continues to suck for him—but is good news for those who hope Ruiz can at least keep all of his titles in tow at least until he and Joshua once again collide.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox