Is the heavyweight class of boxing on the rise? Or has it begun to falter?

There is no disputing that the sport is booming at the moment, even though both views may have merit in many other areas. That may have a lot to do with the images of some of the biggest names in boxing, the money Saudi Arabia has contributed to the sport, or even the publicity a recent undisputed heavyweight title bout has brought.

The long-standing rivalry between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury has enthralled spectators worldwide and could contribute significantly to the notion that the division is at its strongest point in many years.

Alongside Anthony Joshua , Fury and Usyk are sitting at the pinnacle of the division

The last undisputed heavyweight champion was Lennox Lewis, who defeated Evander Holyfield in 1999 to unify his WBC belt with his opponent’s WBA and IBF championships. Prior undisputed heavyweight champions have not been seen since the four-belt era.

The historic collision between Fury and Usyk in Saudi Arabia has generated a lot of discussion. It has demonstrated why boxing is currently one of the most interesting sports to watch and learn about in the world. However, there are worries that the distance between Fury, Usyk, Anthony Joshua, and other heavyweight contenders is beginning to grow.

Tyson Fury (right) Oleksandr Usyk (left) showed that boxing’s heavyweight division is thriving

And that gap is perhaps larger than anyone had ever believed.

Some had even thought Joshua was part of a larger bracket of heavyweight fighters that existed outside of Fury and Usyk. But that does not seem the case anymore.

It has become more apparent in some ways by Deontay Wilder‘s recent results and Fury’s defeat by Usyk.

Unfortunately, it appears Wilder may have also now missed out on his chance to fight Anthony Joshua later this year, which is a real blow for the sport.

The pair had been circling each other for many years and had Wilder not lost to Joseph Parker at the end of 2023, Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh admitted that he would have made their long-awaited fight happen.

With Joshua due to fight at Wembley on September 21, there was even hope that Wilder could have secured a victory against Zhilei Zhang during Saturday’s 5v5 event in Saudi Arabia to salvage a fight against Joshua. But any hopes of doing so were extinguished following his fifth-round knockout by Zhang.

At 38, concerns are mounting over Wilder’s long-term future in the sport and it seems he is falling towards retirement. No one was knocking people out with brutal hammer blows like he was.

But it must be said, the calibre of opponents the former WBC heavyweight champion was facing before he first stepped into the ring with Fury in December 2018 was frankly underwhelming.

After clinching the WBC heavyweight title from Bermane Stiverne in 2015, he would go on to beat Eric Molina, Johann Duhaupas, Artur Szpilka, Chris Arreola, Gerald Washington and then Stiverne again before knocking out Luis Ortiz.

Joshua  will wait for his opportunity to challenge either Fury  or Usyk  next year

Fury (left of centre) and Usyk’s (right of centre) historic undisputed heavyweight title fight drew eyes from all over the world

There are now concerns that Wilder, 38, (left) is drawing closer to retirement after suffering his fourth defeat in five bouts

Wilder’s (pictured) loss has also meant we will miss out on seeing him finally settle his beef with Joshua

Stiverne was the only former champion he faced while he held the belts, with Ortiz being an interim champion.

Upon meeting a better opponent in Fury, Wilder didn’t have the tools to cope, with the Gypsy King holding the American to a draw in their opening trilogy fight before besting Wilder twice in their final two meetings via knockout.

That trio of fights have seemingly drained Wilder. Even Fury admitted that some of the blows he took against the American have knocked years off his life.

So what’s next for Joshua?

It appears that he will either have a domestic spat with Daniel Dubois or attempt to exorcise some southpaw demons from Zhang.

Neither, however, are the most attractive alternatives for the once-powerful Wilder. Given Zhang’s massive fan base in China, a bout against him could be a wise commercial decision. However, the prospect of an all-British heavyweight contest at Wembley may be appealing to many, including Alalshikh.

The Saudi boxing leader aims to surpass Dillian Whyte and Fury’s record of 94,000 fans attending a boxing match at Wembley Stadium in 2022.

Putting the commercial aspects aside, Joshua simply needs to stay sharp as he waits until Fury and Usyk’s rematch is decided on December 21.

Joshua must now stay sharp ahead of a potential meeting with Fury or Usyk next year

Joshua can now set up a fight later this year against Daniel Dubois or Zhang

The three are at the top of boxing’s heavyweight class, and the distance between them and the rest of the division is greater than anyone had anticipated. While all heavyweight fights are dangerous, Joshua, Fury, and Usyk are now in a league of their own.

Similarly, Joshua’s losses to Usyk now appear a lot better after Fury’s split decision loss in Saudi Arabia two weeks ago.

Simultaneously, Wilder’s collapse is beginning to undermine the Gypsy King’s wins. While the Ukrainian heavyweight remains at the top of the division, speculation about a fight between Fury and Joshua continues to develop, a contest that is now far closer on paper than many would have predicted a year ago.

Joshua has benefited the most from the Saudi wave in the heavyweight class, surpassing Fury’s £81.2 million from his fight against Usyk.

Joshua, who rose to prominence as the face of UK boxing and ushered in a boom time for the sport in his native country a decade ago, may have to be patient, but he will almost certainly get a shot at immortality.

But intrigue still grows around an all-British fight between Joshua  and Fury.