Deontay Wilder has reclaimed his place as the top-rated American heavyweight less than a year after his 4,296-day streak at the top of the pack in the United States finally ended.
Last year, Wilder overtook Richard Torrez Jr. after more than a decade as America’s top heavyweight champion, but one win over Derek Chisora put the “Bronze Bomber” back ahead of the undefeated Olympic silver medalist.
The latest WBC list places Wilder in sixth place and Torrez in ninth place, down three spots. This is a real change for Wilder: Torrez moved forward, but the takeover didn’t last long.
WBN first calculated that the period was 4,296 days when Torrez moved over Wilder, making this latest change a direct reversal of the longest American heavyweight reign in the current rankings picture.
Torrez’s rise looked like a possible changing of the guard in the American heavyweight division. Instead, Wilder took the spot before the 26-year-old could properly take up the role.
The same rankings also confirmed Tyson Fury’s return to the top spot after his victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov, with the WBC heavyweight list now filled with British fighters.
Wilder regains his place in the USA
Wilder’s return to America’s top spot comes just months after Torrez became the first American heavyweight to overtake him in the WBC rankings in twelve years.
The former WBC heavyweight champion maintained that position in the country through title reigns, defeats, inactivity and the latter stages of his career. The loss of this award marked Wilder’s first real break from the American heavyweight scene. Taking him away keeps him alive in a division that has started to grow.
This is not a detail that can be overlooked. Wilder’s name is still bigger than any other American name in his area, and his punching power remains the one thing that every challenger and champion in this division must respect.
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Stalls along the WBC Belt route
The former WBC champion could face Oleksandr Usyk for the world title later this month as the WBC gave the Ukrainian a voluntary window.
Instead, Wilder stuck to his agreement to fight Chisora, a decision that could ultimately cost him the clearest route back to the WBC belt.
Wilder has another path to the WBC title if the heavyweight fight stalls. Bridgeweight champion Kevin Lerena told World Boxing News he will “100 percent” give Wilder a chance to win the 224-pound crown, while maintaining the possibility that Wilder will retire as a two-weight world champion.
This option gives Wilder a second path to a world title, and his return to heavyweight restored his domestic ranking without giving him back control of the world title fight.
The WBC’s decision earlier this year to create an interim championship line around Agit Kabayel puts Wilder in an odd position. He’s once again above all American heavyweights in the WBC rankings, still unsafe enough to matter, and still waiting for the championship picture to open up.
Currently, the cleanest scenario in the heavyweight division may involve Kabayel finally being elevated to full champion after Usyk faces Rico Verhoeven.
WBC list of British heavyweight fighters
As well as Wilder reclaiming the US number one, the latest rankings also highlight how much the WBC heavyweight picture is currently tilting towards the UK.
Fury remains on top despite two defeats to Usyk, and Itauma’s rapid rise to third place continues to fuel expectations that the youthful contender is being aggressively pushed towards a future title fight.
Joshua also remains at the top of the division despite his inactivity, while Okolie remains in second place despite his drug testing controversy.
The concentration of British names in the rankings gives this list a second Wilder comeback story. America has its top heavyweight champion back, but the wider WBC picture is being cluttered by UK fighters.
But for Wilder, the headline is national. The 4,296-day winning streak ended, Torrez took the lead, and the former WBC champion returned to this position.
Whether this becomes a route to the heavyweight title, a bridgeweight gamble or just a rankings win now depends on what the WBC does next with Usyk, Kabayel, Lerena and the belts floating around the Wilder name.
About the author
Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.
Anthony Joshua is finally set to take on Tyson Furyand promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that a world-renowned trainer will be helping Joshua prepare for his showdown with ‘The Gypsy King’.
‘AJ’ has teamed up with Team Usyk for his last two professional contests, with Iegor Golub acting as lead trainer in back-to-back knockout wins against Jake Paul and Kristian Prenga within the last 10 months.
Despite being victorious, Joshua has been criticised for not dispatching of Paul quicker and for twice being dropped by unknown Albanian Prenga ahead of his long-awaited bout with fellow two-time heavyweight ruler Tyson Fury.
In a clip captured by Pro Boxing FansHearn has revealed that Ben Davison, a former trainer of both Fury and Joshua who he labelled as ‘one of the best in the world’, will be involved in ‘AJ’s camp for the December 11 clash which will take place in Cardiff.
“Even when Ben wasn’t his principal trainer – he was just working with him – strategically, talking all of the time, I think he respects Ben a lot. Obviously, there is probably a feeling that Ben Davison knows Tyson Fury extremely well.
“For me, I think that he is one of the best trainers in the world. I don’t know AJ’s final decision as to where he is going to locate his training camp but Ben Davison will definitely be involved in that camp and in that process.”
It is unknown whether Davison will be re-appointed as Joshua’s lead trainer in Golub’s place or if the pair will work together as part of a wider ‘AJ’ coaching unit.
Jose Benavidez Sr is the father and trainer of potential Fighter of the Year candidate, David Benavidezwho has risen the pound-for-pound rankings with his solitary outing of 2026.
Now, Benavidez Sr has given praise to another reigning world champion, believing that nobody in his division can defeat him.
Benavidez made the 25lb leap up to cruiserweight earlier this year and dethroned unified world champion, Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez upon his debut in the division as he announced himself to the 200lb scene in style.
In December, Benavidez will look to add an additional cruiserweight title to his collection, expected to collide with newly-elevated WBC cruiserweight king, Michal Cieslak, in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday, December 12.
Although, whilst his son is receiving credit for his efforts this year, Benavidez Sr told Fight Hub TV how impressed he was by WBC welterweight titleholder Ryan Garciawhen witnessing ‘King Ry’ halt Conor Benn inside two rounds earlier this month.
“It was spectacular. Ryan Garcia has a lot of speed, he is super fast, he has got that hook. It’s unbelievable. When Ryan focusses and stays sharp he is a very dangerous fighter in that division.
“I just don’t see nobody beating him and he brings a lot of people, so at the end of the day, the sky is the limit for him. He is doing great, I am a big fan and I think that, at this point right now, I don’t see nobody beating him.”
Like Benavidez, Garcia is also looking to compete again before the end of the calendar, eyeing up a December showdown with Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz.
Horrific footage has emerged showing Arturo “Lobito” Torres collapsing in the ring moments after his final fight was stopped in Mexicali.
Torres died on September 25six days after suffering serious injuries following his fight at Parque Vicente Guerrero on September 19.
The 26-year-old’s corner had already stopped the contest when Torres remained on his feet for a matter of seconds.
Then his body gave way.
Footage shows Torres slumping limply to the canvas as those around him immediately rush to his aid.
He was subsequently hospitalized and underwent emergency surgery, but his injuries ultimately proved too severe.
Torres died six days after stepping into the ring for the final time.
Horrific 💔 pic.twitter.com/Nnqo5bsrLn
— World Boxing News (@WorldBoxingNews) September 29, 2026
Arturo Torres Funeral
Torres was laid to rest in Mexicali on September 28 as family, friends and members of the local community said goodbye to the young fighter.
Footage from Mexico showed a lengthy funeral procession making its way through the city nine days after his final fight.
Sadly, the sight of a boxer’s limp body slumping to the canvas is not unfamiliar in this sport.
Having covered boxing for 16 years, World Boxing News is all too familiar with the distressing sight of a fighter in trouble after a hard contest.
Sometimes the consequences mean the end of a career. On terrible occasions, they are far greater.
For Torres, what happened after his final fight ended with a young life being cut tragically short.
The footage is difficult enough to watch without knowing what happened next. Knowing that Torres never recovered makes those final moments in the ring considerably harder.
Nine days after the fight, the streets of Mexicali filled for his funeral procession.
Arturo “Lobito” Torres was only 26.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.
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