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.

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.