Is Wilder the most significant American heavyweight since a pre-Byrd Holyfield?

I was having this argument with someone the other day. I found that Wilder was the highest Ring ranked heavyweight active between Wlad-Fury and Joshua-Wlad, a 518 day period. And retrospectively when the dust has settled Wilder is most likely imo to be considered the best heavyweight active in the three years between Wlad-Fury and Wilder-Fury 1. Joshua was consensus No.1 among active heavyweights from beating Wlad in 2017 until his loss to Ruiz 2 years later but it was always ambiguous because he neither beat the man who beat the man or his No.1 active rival and fellow titlist Wilder.

The only American heavyweight who has been the highest Ring ranked heavyweight in the 21st century is (funnily enough) Byrd (2005/2006). Wilder's peak ranking is 2nd.

 

My speculation is that PBC didn't want Joshua to beat Wilder's marquee win in Ortiz, who was officially 40 by that point and had been brutally KO'd by Wilder 15 months prior. It had the potential to make Wilder look bad and PBC rated 22-0 Joshua very highly at the time, plus they had their own plans for Ortiz. So they promised Ortiz a 2nd shot at Wilder that year and told his team to turn down Hearn's offer. Instead PBC gave apparent sacrificial lamb Andy Ruiz (a recent signing who'd been rejected by Arum, a Parker-victim and not one of PBC's best regarded heavyweights, hence he was a far bigger underdog than Miller had been, who wasn't that well regarded himself) the green light to face Joshua and the rest is history.

But Ortiz was certainly desperate to fight Joshua (hence he signed with Matchroom in 2016) and had no problem fighting him at any time. I have little doubt that even at 44 he'd want Wallin's spot if he could get it.

 

Interesting that Parker-victim Andy Ruiz is currently 2nd in the poll.