Fury ATG?

Holmes is definatly higher than Fury, but he did not fight and beat most of the top men of his era. He never unified the WBA belt, and threw a belt away rather than face Page. There were offers on the table to fight Page, Coetzee, and Thomas, and you can add Tate, Dokes, and Tubbs to that.

Holmes did a remarkably good job of NOT making the fights people wanted to see, which is why he was not all highly regarded in his own era. The 90s comeback rejuvenated his reputation and created a nostalgia for him.

Also, don't forget that Holmes stunk it up in a lot of fights, getting either-ways against Norton and Witherspoon, and performing poorly against lower quality guys like Snipes, Weaver and Williams.

 

With Fury it's about quality over quantity, top wins on the road, as the B-side (two of them very dominant) and four fights as the underdog, while remaining undefeated in 33 fights. No concrete judgements can be made right now though because Fury's career is ongoing.

Bowe got more credit for going 2-1 with a relatively light punching former 190 pounder than he did for his 40-odd other wins combined. Liston had one defence and Foreman had three. Fury's 3-0-1 on the road against two 6'5+ KO artists, possibly the two biggest punchers ever, who were also historically long-reigning champions. So as it stands Fury is well above Bowe, whose legacy was damaged greatly by not making the Lewis fight (if Fury avoided undisputed with Usyk then that would be a similar asterisk next to his legacy). And someone like Vitali isn't in the same stratosphere as Fury record-wise. Not only did his lose against the two best opponents he fought, his best win was arguably a fresh Chisora, who is down the list of Fury's best wins and levels below his current top 3.

 

No. How? His best win is Wilder - most people think he sucks.

 

Nikolai "Sweet Sugar Hands" Valuevs only kryptonite was the healthy big toe of David Haye.

If not for that big toe, he'd still be champion...

TO THIS DAY! TO THIS DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Resume, resume, resume. Name another top 11-20 ATG that's best wins are a 40 year old and a limited, one arm ko machine. Let's be honest, without those 2 wins, Fury wouldn't even be mentioned as a top 100 ATG. H2H is a diffrent story. Off the top of my head, I can't think of 10 other ATG's that beat him. If I am wrong, I'm sure someone will correct me.

 

So if Fury had remained retired after Klitschko, he would be a top 10 ATG? Is Douglas a top 10 ATG?

 

Vitali is actually greater than Fury, even.

 

You must do it in the ring!!!! To call a guy an ATG just because he looks good against lower level opponents is stupid. What separates the ATG's from the rest, is the ability to adapt and think in the ring. So, until he steps in there with a real thinking man, that is skilled, I won't call him an ATG. ATG status isn't proven in the realm of mythical matchups. It's proven in real life in the ring. I don't think my standards are too high.

 

How many title defenses does Fury have? How many title defenses did Holmes have?

 

Case closed.

In defense though the ceiling for heavyweights is pretty shallow. If Fury is an Atg, so is Valuev, eh?

 

Old Wladimir and Wilder do not equal an atg

 

Shhhhh! Man you just open the door for the Valuev fanboys.

 

I know - It's official, Valuev is an ATG. Right up there with Holmes, Frazier and Langford

He also beat Holyfield, another ATG.

 

An argument can be made. LOL

 

Well, if Wilder beats Usyk and Joshua Wilder will be a top 10 ATG, Fury will not.