If there were any doubts, those were tossed to the bin when Christian Mbilli left the arena, with his hand raised and a battered and brushed Sergiy Derevyanchenko behind. He remains the most fierce among the crop of new-generation fighters, ready to take the champion throne. After passing the toughest test of his career against ‘The Technician,’ the Cameroonian-French fighter looks ahead to claim a gold strap. So, who should be his target? Whom should he make a victim of his heavy-handed punches?

Mbilli, 29, is in prime years, and with a victory over Derevyanchenko, 38, he has ensured he puts the division on notice. And if there is one road ahead, that goes through Canelo Alvarez.

Christian Mbilli vs. Canelo Alvarez: Ready to take the gold

Mbilli expressed his desire to be the best as soon as he caught hold of the mic in the post-fight interview. And you have to beat the best to be the best. The suggestion was clear. The Mexican champion is next. You can expect him to be in the stands on September 14, watching the action closely as the champion defends his crown against Edgar Berlanga.

It will be a fight that fans will surely enjoy. In Mbilli, they have another puncher-brawler who could test Alvarez, 34, and his chin by putting relentless pressure on him and launching power punches to break him down. Who doesn’t want to witness the unified champion fending off the aggressive challenger, who will put on a show for the fans? It’s a crowd-pulling bout, and if it happens, it will do good business.

But, the question is whether the 28-0 record holder is prepared to wait until Cinco de Mayo to lay his hands on the champion. After all, a year-long layoff won’t do him any good. Alternatively, Mbilli could run it back with the Ukrainian fighter.

A rematch with Sergiy Derevyanchenko: Taking down a tough fighter for good

When Mbilli fought Derevyanchenko, at 15-6, he was tearing him apart. But, the latter suffered an injury to his left bicep in the fourth round. If you know anything about Derevyanchenko, it is that he is as tough as they come. The Feodosia native’s rotten luck and his toughness go hand in hand. But, he earned praise from everyone for his grit and determination not to take a knee.

Despite being the victor, Mbilli wasn’t the hero of the night, and there were some murmurs about his ability to finish a fighter fighting with one arm. The Yaoundé native undoubtedly dominated the fight from the first bell. However, he failed to finish the job spectacularly. So, he could take another shot at him and finally do it the way he does, by knockout. If it takes a while for Derevyanchenko to heal, Mbilli can set his eyes on Jaime Munguia.

Jaime Munguia: Tweaking for bigger fights

While he has already racked up a defeat against Alvarez, Munguia remains one of the best young fighters at 168. The Mexican has a crowd-pleasing style and prefers to finish his fights rather than grind a result. So, when you pit two aggressive fighters, the fireworks are sure to be there. In addition, Munguia, 27, has the experience of going up against Alvarez, and if Mbilli can do a better job than the champion and amass a knockout win, he will build more confidence and attract more eyeballs.

It’s the same route that Munguia, at 43-1, had adopted to secure a fight against Alvarez. He returns to the ring on September 30 against Erik Bazinyan under the new banner of Top Rank. If he can do a quick job and leave the arena unscathed, then a match between the Tijuana native and Mbilli becomes a thrilling encounter. But it all depends on Munguia, and considerable ifs and buts are involved. But, if the idea is to test himself against the top contenders, there are two other names.

Two wildcards: The polishing job for Christian Mbilli

Caleb Plant is always itching for a fight, and it has been such that if you defeat him, the road to the championship is yours to ride. The American fighter is coming off a layoff and will fight Argentinian journeyman, Trevor McCumby, next on the same card as Alvarez vs. Berlanga. Fighting and defeating ‘Sweethands’ could give Mbilli a fighter, which could help him cement his position near the top and might make him impossible to ignore too.

And if the orthodox boxer somehow runs short of potential suitors, because of one reason or another, he could pick Demetrius Andrade. While Andrade lost the fight to David Benavidez last November, he is still regarded highly for his skill set. He could pose a different test for Mbilli and help him polish his skills. It all depends on Mbilli as to how to reach the title fight and how to pick his route. But, you shouldn’t be surprised if he is fighting for the title in the next couple of fights.

Who do you think Christian Mbilli should fight next? Let us know in the comments below.