Photo by Justin Tallis – AFP/Getty Images

Anthony Joshua passed the biggest test of his career Saturday in London, another step up in his rapid rise.

The 2012 super heavyweight Olympic champion faced fierce resistance from then-unbeaten Dillian Whyte, who hurt the bigger man in the second round and took the best Joshua had to offer – at least for a while.

Joshua adjusted, broke down Whyte and finally stopped him in the seventh round, the winner’s 15th knockout in as many fights.

Joshua hasn’t quite joined the ranks of the Big Four – RING Champion Tyson Fury, No. 1 Wladimir Klitschko, No. 2 Alexander Povetkin and No. 3 Deontay Wilder – but he demonstrated that he is well on his way.

Thus, Joshua, who was rated No. 10 last week, switches places with Carlos Takam (No. 9 last week).

Joshua reportedly wants to fight former title contender Dereck Chisora next. That matchup would provide another gauge as to how good Joshua could ultimately become.

In other divisions:

CRUISERWEIGHT

Oleksandr Usyk (No. 8 last week) retains his position after stopping Pedro Rodriguez (unrated) on Saturday in Ukraine.

MIDDLEWEIGHT

Chris Eubank Jr. (No. 9 last week) stopped Gary O’Sullivan in seven rounds on the Joshua-Whyte card. Eubank changes places with Daniel Geale (No. 8 last week).

LIGHTWEIGHT

Kevin Mitchell (No. 8 last week) was dropped from the ratings after he was stopped in the fifth round by Ismael Barroso (unrated last week), Mitchell’s second straight knockout loss.

He is replaced by talented Puerto Rican Felix Verdejo, who stopped Josenilson Dos Santos in two rounds in San Juan on Friday. Verdejo enters at No. 10.

JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT

Nonito Donaire (No. 3 last week) defeated Cesar Juarez (unrated last week) by a unanimous decision but it wasn’t enough to trump the talent above him on the list — Champion Guillermo Rigondeaux, No. 1 Scott Quigg and No. 2 Carl Frampton — so remains where he is.

FLYWEIGHT

Amnat Ruenroeng (No. 2 last week) stays put after outpointing Myung Ho Lee (unrated last week) last Monday in Thailand.

STRAWWEIGHT

Fahlan Sakkreerin Jr. (No. 10 last week) outpointed Boy Tanto (unrated last week) on the Ruenroeng-Lee card to retain his position.