Ellis was a top 5 contender with only Foreman, Ali, Norton, Frazier and Quarry above him. Spectacular KO. Norton was top 3 when pole axed.
I agree Holmes appears more durable than Fury but I don't think it's by a lot because Fury recovers incredibly well.
Pajkic had him in danger he dropped Fury heavily and had him in trouble for the rest of the round and almost dropped him again with a right hand at the end of the round. I also don't agree they have the same durability. Holmes after 49 fights, 20 world title fights, at age 36, was only dropped twice. Fury in comparison after 37 fights, 7 world title fights, at age 36, has been dropped 8 times in his career. So with less than half of Holmes's world title wins, facing less than half of the ranked top 10 fighters Holmes had fought, Fury has been dropped 4 times as much as Holmes.
If you get stopped badly in the fight before turning pro, your brain doesn't care if it was pro or am.
David Tua was stopped in under a minute in the amateurs yet his chin is considered up there with one of the best chins of all time in the professional ranks at Heavyweight. If Fury had fought the same timeline as Holmes as a professional he'd have over 10+ knockdowns as a professional and atleast 5 losses.
You omitted both a knockout loss for Holmes that occurred years into his twenties and another that occurred when he was a serious threat to win the title back. Good job.
Great big man beats great smaller man. 12 round majority decision in 12; if it’s set for 15 Holmes might just stop him in 13 or 14. Usyk is a very great fighter. But past it Fury and Joshua are not 1980 Larry Holmes. I have huge respect for all mentioned.
I compared Holmes's stats to Fury at the same age Fury is now. And Fury has x4 as many knockdowns with 3 of those opponents being unranked with 1 of them being an MMA fighter. Fury wouldn't do much better at age 38 coming off a lay off and his first opponent is a prime Mike Tyson. And who knows if Fury starts fighting notable opponents at age 37 onwards you get maybe see him getting stopped.
I heard that part of Usyk's training for the rematch with Fury was to swim for 6 hours straight. So even though he's never boxed 15 rounds I don't think that would be a problem for Alexander's fitness. Of course I can't prove or disprove that.
I also heard that he spars 15 5 minute rounds and resets the timer if he is ever put against the ropes.