One of boxing’s most dominant champions for more than a decade has unlaced his gloves for the final time.

Former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, 41, announced his retirement via video statement Thursday morning. He held the unified heavyweight title from 2006-15.

In April, Klitschko lost in the 11th round to Britain’s Anthony Joshua in a classic title fight in London’s Wembley Stadium.The retirement certainly shakes up the heavyweight division and could have a big impact on Tuscaloosa's Deontay Wilder, the World Boxing Council heavyweight champion.

“I think this puts everything on fast forward,” said Jay Deas, Wilder’s co-manager and trainer. “Most people were waiting on the rematch with Joshua. Now that that’s not going to happen, everything speeds up."

Klitschko had a contracted rematch with Joshua, but elected to hang up his gloves rather than go through with it.

“Our position is if Anthony Joshua wants the biggest fight of his career, come to Deontay Wilder," Deas said. "Deontay Wilder is ready. This is a fight fans want. If he’s looking someone to fill that date, pencil in Deontay Wilder. If he wants the biggest fight of his career, they need to call our people. They need to come to us.”

Joshua had tentatively scheduled Klitschko for a rematch Nov. 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas , as per the rematch clause in the original fight contract.

Wilder hasn’t fought since Feb. 25, one of the longest layoffs of his career. The WBC previously ruled Wilder must fight a mandatory against the top-ranked contender Bermane Stiverne, but there has been no activity as of yet to make that fight happen.

Instead, it appears likely Wilder will face Cuban contender Luis Ortiz in defense of his WBC title in Brooklyn’s Barclay’s Arena on either Oct. 14 or Nov. 4.

Wilder had hoped to one day fight Klitschko. The pair established a friendly relationship when Wilder traveled to Austria in 2012 to spar Klitschko. A mutual respect between both teams grew from there.

“I want to say that Wladimir was one of the best representatives of boxing you could ever have,” Deas said. “We wish him well on his retirement. When we went to camp with Wladimir, he was absolutely wonderful to death with. They were a real professional team. We learned a lot and were treated extremely well.

“He’s a first-ballot hall-of-famer, and we plan on being there when he’s inducted.”

Reach Aaron Suttles at aaron.suttles@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0229.