Deontay Wilder’s extraordinary 4,740-day streak as a permanent WBC heavyweight contender has narrowly survived a freefall that nearly derailed his newly agreed world-title shot against Oleksandr Usyk. In just 24 months, Wilder plunged from the WBC’s long-standing No. 1 to No. 13 — the steepest decline of his career. One more rankings cycle and the Bronze Bomber could have slipped outside the top 15, instantly losing eligibility for a voluntary defense. The sanction arrived just in time, confirming a fight that had already been agreed in principle. His 4,740-day WBC tenure dates back to December 15, 2012, when Wilder defeated Kelvin Price via third-round knockout at the Sports Arena, Los Angeles, to claim the vacant WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight title. This victory would have automatically placed him in the top 15. Usyk Called Him Out — Wilder Accepted Instantly At the WBC Convention in Bangkok this month, Usyk publicly named Wilder as his next opponent. Wilder accepted immediately, telling delegates he “can’t wait to hear negotiations.” WBN understands the pair had been in contact months earlier, with Wilder privately revealing in an interview that his “next fight would be for the title in January.” The fight is agreed, locked in, and officially sanctioned — its survival hinged on timing rather than recent form. Two-Year Freefall Nearly Costs Wilder the Fight After years as the immovable No. 1 challenger behind Tyson Fury, Wilder’s position crumbled under inactivity, back-to-back losses to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang, and just one win across 30 months. In the WBC’s latest list, he sits at No. 13 — surrounded by younger, undefeated, and far more active heavyweights: WBC Heavyweight Rankings | December 2025 1| Lawrence Okolie (Silver) 2| Daniel Dubois 3| Anthony Joshua 4| Moses Itauma (COMM) 5| Filip Hrgovic 6| Efe Ajagba 7| Martin Bakole 8| Frank Sanchez 9| Zhilei Zhang 10| Bakhodir Jalolov 11| Richard Torrez Jr (NABF) 12| Guido Vianello (CON. AMERICAS) 13| Deontay Wilder 14| Dereck Chisora 15| Jared Anderson For the first time in his career, Wilder is ranked below fighters he once would have been heavily favored to demolish. Historic US Heavyweight Streak Lost Just recently, Wilder surrendered his 4,000+ day reign as the top US heavyweight to rising Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. That loss symbolized what insiders already knew: Wilder wasn’t just drifting… he was sinking. One more month of inactivity and he would have fallen too far for the WBC to sanction the Usyk bout. The WBC Approved the Fight — Just in Time The WBC has confirmed its approval of Usyk vs Wilder to WBN, locking in one of the most intriguing stylistic clashes of the modern era. Had the sanction been delayed until after the next rankings reshuffle, Wilder would have been outside the eligibility window. The calendar, not momentum, saved his title shot. The Delayed Comeback That Nearly Backfired Wilder was expected to box this autumn. Shelly Finkel told WBN he intended to take a tune-up before a 2026 blockbuster. That tune-up has now slipped to January or February, with no opponent named. The delay allowed active fighters like Jalolov, Torrez, and Vianello to leapfrog him. Had the slide continued, the Usyk fight — already verbally agreed — would have been dead before contracts arrived. Timing, not form, preserved the showdown. A Fight Still Worth Every Second Despite the ranking chaos, the fight remains one of the most compelling matchups available: Usyk, the master technician. Wilder, the most destructive puncher of the century. Both want the fight. The WBC has sanctioned it. Heavyweight boxing finally has its next blockbuster. But Wilder has burned through every inch of ranking goodwill. His 13-year relevance streak is alive — but flickering at its lowest point. He is getting his shot, but only because the door slammed shut a second after he stepped through it. The next punch he throws will decide whether he remains a contender or becomes a heavyweight relic frozen out of the WBC Ratings for good. About the Author Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed dozens of world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside at the sport’s most significant events since founding WBN in 2010. Read full bio.