Sort of irrelevant to this discussion, but the thread got me thinking:

When does a boxer become 'mandatory'? I'm assuming that it is not enough to 'merely' be ranked #1, usually you have to win an eliminator as well. Isn't that correct?

(To take an exampke, then Froch is currently rated #1 by the WBC, but I assume he is not being labeled 'mandatory' before he has beaten #2 Inkin in the upcoming eliminator).

In other words, had Berto not specifically won a WBC-eliminator, Floyd would just need to make a defense against anyone in the WBC top 15, right?