A lot goes into boxing rankings. But the one that probably eclipses all the other criteria remains a defeat. That too, if the setback happens in succession, then all the more detrimental to the boxer’s standing from a wider perspective. Last week, Deontay Wilder lost the plot and suffered his fourth career loss. The reversal follows last December’s defeat at the hands of Joseph Parker.

Deep in his mind, the former world champion might still be debating his future in boxing. However, as the saying goes, the sport never waits for anyone. In the outer world, the repercussions of the double whammy now emerge more distinctly. Soon after The Ring magazine released its list of the top 10 heavyweight boxers, BoxRec updated its own. Both have one thing in common – ‘The Bronze Bomber’s name no longer stands among the elite heavyweight contenders of today.

IFL TV, through its X/Twitter handle, sought fans’ opinions as it shared a list of the current top ten heavyweight boxers listed on BoxRec’s website. There are no prizes for guessing the first position. With his win on May 17 over Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk became the century’s first undisputed heavyweight champion. The feat has not only positioned him as the numero uno of most ranking systems but also as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world.

The second position appears different between The Ring and BoxRec. The century-old sports magazine has Tyson Fury following Usyk and then Anthony Joshua in third place. Whereas the boxing record-keeper had Agit Kabayel make it to third place. ‘AJ’ came second. But outside of these and a few other exceptions, probably the most glaring observation remains the absence of Deontay Wilder.

Of course, the close but not identical reports sparked a furious online debate among followers. Seemingly critical of ‘The Bronze Bomber’, this user remarked, “Wilder dropping out of the Ring Magazine rankings is no surprise. He’s been ‘dropping out’ of title defenses lately. But hey, at least he’s still ranked higher than Fury in the WBC heavyweight rankings.”

However, another follower tried clarifying the picture, making it easier for everyone to understand. Asking the very basis for including Wilder’s name, they highlighted that the Olympic bronze medalist lost four out of his last five fights. More so, three out of those four were knockout losses.

Deontay Wilder: No Mean Journey

Speculations are rife about whether Deontay Wilder will finally hang the gloves for good. Fans would definitely miss him if he said goodbye. If he decides to stay back for one last swan song, then perhaps the much-sought-after match with Joshua should do justice to his legacy. However, a bigger question remains, whether a resurgent Joshua, on the threshold of claiming his third world championship, would be interested anymore in fighting ‘The Bronze Bomber’. Hence, it might as well be time to take a look at the contributions of boxing’s deadliest puncher.

It’s been sixteen years since the 6 feet and 7 inches tall, powerful hitter has been in the business. A world champion who defended his title for a record ten times, as some of the fans highlighted, has nothing to lose. Two of his losses came against one of boxing’s biggest names. The Fury-Wilder trilogy is now very much part of boxing lore. Thus, a retirement at this stage would be something that most Wilder fans will understand and accept despite their desire to see the old Wilder return to ring once more.

What’s your take on Ring magazine and BoxRec’s rankings? Do you feel that considering his legacy, Deontay Wilder’s name deserves inclusion?