Deontay Wilder’s two fights against Tyson Fury, either side of the Covid-19 pandemic, will live long in the memory of boxing fans around the world.

But the two defeats for the American affected his standing in the heavyweight division and he has not reached the same heights since.

In the four-and-a-half years since his second loss against Fury, Wilder has fought just four times and lost two of them.

That has left the 40-year-old scrambling to climb the steps of the heavyweight division, with chances to get back in the title conversation dwindling.

Given the two fighters’ lack of fights in the last few years, there are no belts on the line this evening but Wilder views this as the next step on his comeback trail to the top of the sport.