Deontay Wilder has overtaken Anthony Joshua as the No.1 heavyweight without a world title, according to The Ring Magazine 's latest rankings.
The former heavyweight champions are still believed to be two of the best boxers at the weight, and have only lost to world champions such as Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury and Andy Ruiz Jr, who is ranked at No.4 by the publication. Usyk is the champion, so transcends the rankings, while Fury relinquished their title and ranking eligibility during his brief recent retirement.
Wilder is ahead of Joshua likely due to activity, having knocked out Robert Helenius within a round of his comeback fight earlier this month. The American had been knocked out brutally by Tyson Fury in both of his last outings, but exploded back into the world title scene with a stunning victory over Helenius, who arguably had a claim to a top ranking with the WBA.
Behind Joshua at No.3 is Joe Joyce, who recently knocked out No.7 Joseph Parker at the AO Arena in Manchester to secure his position as the mandatory challenger with the WBO. Behind him is Wilder's likely next opponent Ruiz, who just beat Luis Ortiz; ranked No.6 with the publication.
In at No.5 is the returning Dillian Whyte; the Brit faces Jermaine Franklin later this month, while the list is filled out at No.8 by Filip Hrgovic after his win over No.10 Zhilei Zhang, and No.9 Frank Sanchez. The undefeated Cuban is the division's forgotten man, appearing on undercards of Wilder and Fury on a number of occasions but struggling to land a big fight.
Who do you believe is the best heavyweight in the world? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
Joshua is expected to make a comeback early 9in 2023 after his August defeat to Usyk in their unified world title rematch in Saudi Arabia. He will return against a lesser opponent, believed at the moment to possibly be Wilder's teammate Gerald Washington who is 20-5-1 and turned 40 this year.
Meanwhile, the WBC have told Wilder and Ruiz Jr that they can square off in a final eliminator for the mandatory position for Fury's belt with the governing body. A win for the Alabama native would theoretically set him up for a fourth meeting with his arch nemesis; a bout Fury refuses to rule out.
Usyk holds the WBA super, WBO and IBF titles, and is expected to face Fury early next year with all of the belts on the line for the first time in the four-belt era. Then, a slew of mandatories will present themselves in the form of Daniel Dubois, who is WBA regular champion, Joyce and Hrgovic who are No.1 with the WBO and IBF respectively.
