Monday 16 May 2016 14:02, UK
Having seen his clash with Alexander Povetkin cancelled due to the Russian's failed drugs test, what's next for Deontay Wilder?
Wilder's manager, Jay Deas, insists the bout with Povetkin is "off" rather than postponed in the wake of the challenger testing positive for meldonium.
So where will Wilder (36-0-KO35) turn for the next challenge to his WBC world heavyweight title? Here is a quintet of possibilities...
When Wilder became world champion, in January 2015, he did so by scoring a unanimous decision over Haiti's Stiverne in Las Vegas.
Stiverne is now 37 and has fought just once since, clambering up from a first-round knockdown to outpoint Derric Rossy in the same city in November 2015.
Despite his relative inactivity, Stiverne is ranked next in line by the WBC and having cited severe dehydration and muscle damage as the reasons behind his initial defeat, has been chasing a rematch ever since.
Next in line according to the WBC's rankings is Pulev, a former world title challenger who beat Dereck Chisora to the vacant European title via split decision on May 7.
The Bulgarian's sole career defeat came at the hands of Wladimir Klitschko in November 2014 and he represents a solid challenge technically for Wilder, who struggled to cope with his last opponent Artur Szpilka early on.
What Pulev has left in terms of desire and work-rate at the age of 35 is open to question but the victory over Chisora kept him clinging on to hopes of another world title tilt and another big pay day.
Towards the other end of the age spectrum is Mexico's Ruiz, who stopped former world title challenger Ray Austin in the fourth round of his latest bout.
Four years Wilder's junior at the age of 26, Ruiz has been turning in performances that belie his less-than-athletic appearance and is starting to be talked of as a genuine threat on the world heavyweight scene.
His fitness has improved over the years. Ruiz entered the professional game at around 300lbs (and only 6'2") but weighed in for the Austin fight at just over 248lbs. Whether he can defy his critics and delight his Mexican fanbase by getting to the very top remains to be seen.
One of the great unknown quantities in the division despite having held the WBA world title between 2009 and 2011, Haye will be looking to make another statement when he faces the unbeaten Arnold Gjergjaj.
After three-and-a-half years in the boxing wilderness, Haye returned with a brutal stoppage of Mark de Mori in January - but what will it be like when he steps up his level of opposition?
The south Londoner has looked in great condition since joining new trainer Shane McGuigan and is making all the right noises. With his ranking on the rise and still able to pull a crowd, Haye is likely to be back in the big time soon.
In the wake of Wilder's dramatic victory over Szpilka, Fury leapt into the ring to issue the challenge of a unification fight. Wilder's aggressive welcome offered a teasing glimpse at the entertainment the build-up to a clash between the two would provide.
Wilder was unfazed by Fury's antics and insisted he'd be prepared to travel to the UK to face him, but Fury may return the offer of fighting away from home if he wants one potentially career-defining fight under the bright lights of Las Vegas.
Of course, this all pre-supposes that Fury both retains his WBA Super and WBO titles against Klitschko on July 9 and goes back on his threat to retire in the wake of the bout.
Joshua's bid to conquer America is underway with the signing of a multi-fight deal with TV giants Showtime, and he'll further increase his Stateside profile if he deals with the challenge of Dominic Breazeale on June 25 as he's expected to.
Wilder has fought more than twice as many times as Joshua and been taken the distance only once, so a Britain v USA heavyweight classic between undefeated knockout artists would surely be something to get any boxing fan's heart racing.
Showtime supremo Stephen Espinoza told Sky Sports that he expects the fight to happen within a year.
