The three charismatic fighters reinvigorating heavyweight boxing
Related Story: Wilder draws with Fury to retain WBC heavyweight title Related Story: Fury beats Klitschko to become new world heavyweight champion
There seems to be little doubt that we are emerging back into a golden age of heavyweight boxing.
The 90kg and over division has long regarded itself the marquee of the sport, but after nearly two decades of stagnation — during which challengers of dubious provenance and pedigree were comfortably dispatched by the Klitschko brothers — the lustre of the coveted title has undoubtedly been dulled.
In recent years, despite plenty of false-dawns, fight fans would have been better off heading to watch Creed for a chance at seeing a decent heavyweight contest.
But Sunday's fight put paid to that.
The magnificent contest between Deontay Wilder, America's best heavyweight hope since Evander Holyfield, and undefeated former-champion Tyson Fury could have leap right off the pages of a movie script, such was the drama both in the ring and out.
Despite being knocked down twice — the second a brutal shot in the twelfth round that had Wilder celebrating an almost certain victory — Fury was able to pick himself up off the canvas before eventually being handed a contentious draw.
That Hollywood-esque story, complete with an ending that begs for a sequel, has been called the best fight in the heavyweight division since Anthony Joshua's 11th round TKO victory over Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley in 2017 — and that was just what happened inside the ring.
The story of how Fury got back to the top is worth its own screenplay.
The Gypsy King
The self-styled Gypsy King unified the heavyweight division back in 2015 with a stunning, unanimous-decision victory over a battle-weary Wladimir Kiltschko in Dusseldorf, but was stripped of his titles in 2016 — and his licence to box — after testing positive to cocaine.
Fury, who admitted to taking the drugs to help deal with depression, left the sport to deal with his mental health issues, with few thinking he would ever return to the ring — particularly after his weight ballooned out to 180kg.
Despite those problems, Fury fought back to thrust himself right back into the spotlight, dropping around 63kg in the process.
Fury is not your conventional heavyweight — in fact, unconventional barely covers it.
This is a man who once dressed up as Batman to announce a fight, and frequently bursts into impromptu sing-alongs — most recently a rendition of American Pie in his post-Wilder press conference — although those sunny interludes barely hint at the clouded past that led him to this point.
The 30-year-old's battle against mental illness almost cost him everything, so when he gave a heartfelt interview to BT Sport in which he referenced scars far less visible than those he bore from Wilder's gloves, it was not surprising.
"I just showed the world tonight [that] everyone suffering from mental health, you can come back, it can be done," Fury said.
"Everybody out there that has the same problems, I did it for you. If I can come back from what I've been through, then you can do it too."
Fury is undoubtedly a polarising character, with his previous comments on homosexuality gaining widespread criticism. But one thing that is without doubt is his phenomenal talent, which makes him likely to be a key figure in boxing in the coming years.
The Bronze Bomber
Fury's opponent on Sunday is the new great American hope, who in 2015 ended American heavyweight boxing's unprecedented eight-year slump, after Shannon Briggs's brief dalliance as WBO champion ended in 2007.
The overall health of boxing has depended on the American market for decades, with fans harking back to days when America ruled the division.
So when Alabama-native Deontay Wilder emerged from the mire of hopefuls, adorned with an Olympic bronze medal around his neck and a sledgehammer of a right fist, the sport got the shot in the arm it needed stateside.
Those sledgehammer fists have since accounted for 39 knockouts in 41 professional fights, but it is not just his skills in the ring that make him a star.
Wilder shows a similarly theatrical streak to Fury, dressing up in flamboyant costumes, complete with face masks.
However, the 33-year-old combines that sporting marketability with a backstory that resonates with the wider public, when he skipped attending the college of his choice to focus on his boxing career to help provide for his daughter who has spina bifida.
Having now defended his title eight times, Wilder has turned his eyes towards unifying the division, with a fight against the bookies' favourite and highest-ranked heavyweight Anthony Joshua.
The golden boy
The former brickie from north London who claimed an Olympic gold medal in his home Games of 2012 sparked this new bright age of heavyweight boxing by dethroning Wladimir Klitschko in a blockbuster encounter at Wembley in 2017.
That fight was heralded as being the tipping point for the entire heavyweight division, with Joshua, now 29 years old, proving he was not just a flashy showman and could dig deep to slug it out with one of the all-time greats.
A fight between Joshua and Wilder has been touted ever since that night at Wembley, with both looking to unify the division and cement their legacy as the first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis at the turn of the millennium.
Now, with Joshua holding the IBF, WBA and WBO belts, Wilder the WBC and Fury being the unofficial lineal champion, there is a three-way tussle at the pinnacle of the sport for the first time since Lennox Lewis, Riddick Bowe and Evander Holyfield — each with a legitimate claim from which to mount their case as being number one.
In terms of where to go from here, a rematch between Wilder and Fury would be a no-brainer — but realistically, any combination between these three fighters would likely break the box office, especially as both Fury and Wilder called out Joshua immediately after the fight.
"I have spoken to Joshua since Saturday and his position is unchanged — he believes he will stop anyone put in front of him," Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn told TalkSport.
"As far as AJ is concerned, he will fight anyone. He would love Wilder next and he has always wanted Fury."
However, at least in the immediate future, it would perhaps be wise to allow a rematch between Fury and Wilder to play out before a unification showdown with Joshua.
After all, the winner of any fight between Wilder and Joshua would carry the undisputed tag in name only — and Fury would be quick to highlight that he remains an unbeaten champion.
Instead, Joshua would be sensible to take on his mandatory challengers and look to offer the winner of Fury Wilder II a winner-takes-all fight at a sold-out Wembley Stadium — although boxing fans would be hoping this three-way rivalry has more to run than just two big fights.
Wilder told reporters after the match that he would love to take either British fighter on, and that he was in a "win-win situation".
Realistically though, the biggest winners are fans of heavyweight boxing.
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