Lennox Lewis ducked Chris Byrd

"Best to be like Lewis - neither."

That wasn't what was said at the time. If one is objective (which of course most aren't, especially about heavyweights from 20-60 years ago), Fury is clearly mentally stronger than Lewis in the ring. Many also like to put Lewis's losses down to "lack of discipline" or "overlooking the opponent", which is a species of mental weakness. Fury has those weaknesses too, probably to a greater degree but unlike Lewis his chin and defence has held up.

"and had been ducked by both Bowe and Tyson."

He avoided pre-prison Tyson and team Bowe made offers to fight him in 1993 and 1995 according to Rummy's Corner. I don't doubt though that team Bowe were not keen on the fight and nor was post-prison Tyson.

"until achieving pretty much what he set out to do"

Their career trajectories were completely different. Lewis finally reached the top of the mountain at 34 in his 11th title fight, Fury beat the final boss at 27 in his championship debut. Since Fury had been a teenager, dethroning Wlad was his primary and overwhelming goal.

"retiring" two times"

Fury's claimed to have retired probably half a dozen times. The only period that could really be described as retirement was the 31 months of inactivity between Wlad and Seferi. Within 6 months of the Seferi and Pianeta exhibitions he fought Wilder in his backyard. He's been the underdog in four career fights, could easily be five if Haye hadn't pulled out a week away from the fight. Fury's been the underdog more than any top heavyweight since Holyfield.

The likes of hatmanstrikesback invented the ducking narrative (claiming that Usyk had accepted 30-70, when the condition of that from team Usyk was 70-30 for clear B-side Usyk in a rematch, which Fury may or may not want, and a £1 donation to Ukraine: none of that on the cards) and had egg on their faces when the fight was signed. Old posts can be dug up, the consensus on here was that Fury would never fight Usyk. It was signed the same year that it was theoretically first possible. Compare the Mayweather-Pacquiao situation, or indeed the Wilder-Joshua situation. And Fury goes into the fight (assuming it happens) less favoured than he was pre-Ngannou, so if anything he should be more worried about losing. If Fury wants to duck there's still plenty of opportunity for him to pull out and retire.

 

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"while you made more kids than title fights"

Fury has a very large family, I don't see your "point" at all. It won't even be true come February if Fury-Usyk happens.

"Never was the bar so low for greatness where you can apparently be considered not only an ATG"

Your God Gasman disagrees with you. According to him, Fury only needed 5 world title fights to be a "1st rate ATG, no question".

"three defences"

Foreman only had three defences of belts: Jose Roman (who?), Norton, Schulz (gift decision).

"Fury will be but a footnote in boxing history"

Even if he lost to Usyk he'd be one of the three most significant heavyweights of the 21st century thus far on accomplishment. He'd still be the man who ended the 11.5 year unbeaten, 18 defence streak of Wlad and 10 defence streak of Wilder, in their backyards, three times as the underdog, and beat Wilder in the defining trilogy of the 21st century thus far.

If Fury beats Usyk however, he's the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999 and very arguably the best heavyweight of all time, much as that may pain you.

 

I was quoting based on memory, it amounts to the exact same thing.

Usyk: "I can't fight in December 2022 because I have injures, I don't want to go straight back into the gym and I want to spend time with my family".

So regardless of any politics, negotiations and he said she said, Usyk was unavailable to fight Fury in 2022 by his own admission.

 

I think 2002 Tyson and 20 lbs overweight Tua at 5'10 and 5'9 respectively were the two biggest punchers he ever fought.

 

Usyk himself said he wouldn't be ready for Dec 2022 for his own reasons. Regardless of team Fury and their plans, that's what he said.

 

A lot more than there was for Mavrovic, Botha and Kirk Johnson yeah. Assuming that 1. Lewis won 2. Lewis didn't look bad or terrible in victory and won uncontroversially. Hence the duck.