Is Fury best ever british heavyweight ?

[HomicideHenry]

Cooper was barely a cruiserweight. He weighed about 190lbs

Joshua, Whyte and Joyce would have smashed him to pieces.

Cooper never was really above British or European level though in all honesty. Anytime he tried to step up over to the next level he got knocked out or cut up. But that being said it's hard to argue against him being the best British level champion of all time.

[polecateddy]

Personally I think Akinwande is a difficult opponent for Fury. He had a good jab, a good engine, he wasn't chinny, and late on developed probably more power than Fury has. 6 foot 7.

[margaret thatcher]

cooper was a euro level fighter the size of a modern light heavy. he was the exact height and pretty much weight of what joe smith is on fight night

agree, joyce, aj, and whyte wouldve smashed him


mason, however likable he was and however good you think he could've been, accomplished very very little. tbh, he struck me as a poor man's bruno

[margaret thatcher]

Personally I think Akinwande is a difficult opponent for Fury. He had a good jab, a good engine, he wasn't chinny, and late on developed probably more power than Fury has. 6 foot 7.

that couldve been an absolutely dire fight tbh

[Blodhemn]

Who are Lewis's top five wins?

I'd place them that way:

1. Evander Holyfield - undisputed HW championship to determine the best fighter of the 90s.
2. Vitali Klitschko - a win over a one of the two dominant forces of the next generation.
3. Ray Mercer - I'd name Mercer the 5th boxer of the 90s, after Lewis, Holyfield, Bowe and Tyson.
4. Donovan Ruddock - seen as a favorite and possible future of the division back then, but was demolished in 2.
5. Andrew Golota - was coming off the beatdowns over Bowe, who before those had been seen as #1 by many.

The wins over Frank Bruno, Tommy Morrison, David Tua and Hasim Rahman are close to the top 5.

The Mike Tyson win is hard to be not mentioned, but in the 2000s Tyson was way past it.

It was the manner of the victories over Ruddock and Golota that elevate them, he absolutely destroyed both of them, like they were nothing, and both men were considered serious dangermen.

But it turned out Golota was a pussy and quit any hard fight - he low blew Bowe to quit the fights, and Ruddock was basic fluff that a fat Fury would embarrass. The 90s was the steroid era and all sportsmen of this generation are overrated.

[DrDuke]

I'd place them that way:

1. Evander Holyfield - undisputed HW championship to determine the best fighter of the 90s.
2. Vitali Klitschko - a win over a one of the two dominant forces of the next generation.
3. Ray Mercer - I'd name Mercer the 5th boxer of the 90s, after Lewis, Holyfield, Bowe and Tyson.
4. Donovan Ruddock - seen as a favorite and possible future of the division back then, but was demolished in 2.
5. Andrew Golota - was coming off the beatdowns over Bowe, who before those had been seen as #1 by many.

The wins over Frank Bruno, Tommy Morrison, David Tua and Hasim Rahman are close to the top 5.

The Mike Tyson win is hard to be not mentioned, but in the 2000s Tyson was way past it.

It was the manner of the victories over Ruddock and Golota that elevate them, he absolutely destroyed both of them, like they were nothing, and both men were considered serious dangermen.

But it turned out Golota was a pussy and quit any hard fight - he low blew Bowe to quit the fights, and Ruddock was basic fluff that a fat Fury would embarrass. The 90s was the steroid era and all sportsmen of this generation are overrated.

The juice era started earier and it's not over, while it never will be over.

[the truth]

I agree

[Coco]

Should Lennox be rated as British?

[DrDuke]

Should Lennox be rated as British?

British citizen born in Britain, fighting out of Britain under the British promotion. British Britain is everywhere in the Britishness of Lewis.

[Blueprint]

Laughable. Beating the same man 3 times doesn't make you the best. Post this question in 3 years when he has beaten Usyk, Whyte, Joshua, Joyce etc.

[Boxerbeetle]

Did anyone on here actually rate Wilder? From what I remember, we all agreed he was dogshit, just with a massive right hand.

[polecateddy]

In truth it’s probably premature to rate Fury. Wilder is such an odd fish of a heavyweight, he can’t be used effectively as a benchmark. He’s someone who a lot of previous heavyweight champions would have made look silly, and probably avoided the 4 knockdowns. If Usyk wins every round against him, and Joyce makes that 290 pounds bodyweight backfire in the championship rounds, obviously Fury quickly falls down the pecking order. Spending the next 12 months buggering about in Morecambe won’t be very helpful to his legacy.

[Terminator666]

It wasn’t long ago most we’re saying how limited Wilder was and a one trick pony so I agree can’t judge Fury too much against Wilder.

[margaret thatcher]

Did anyone on here actually rate Wilder? From what I remember, we all agreed he was dogshit, just with a massive right hand.

wilder is very dangerous, but his resume is pretty dumpy tbh for a long reigning champ.

breazeale and stiverne among the best 3 he's beaten in 45 fights. joshua beat breazeale easily after 2 years pro and its barely among his 10 best wins. has wilder beaten much better than whyte has? tbf the same could be said of vitali

[Counter-puncher]

i agree that rating Fury is weird given that such a high % of his body of work is vs Wilder. personally with me rating Fury it's been more about the eye-test where at his best for reasons we all know he's a formidable fantasy contender

[TheGman]

Bombadier Billy Wells
Tommy Farr
Henry Cooper
Joe Bugner
Frank Bruno
Lennox Lewis

Where does Tyson Fury rank ?

Lennox Lewis then Fury imo,prime Lewis,the one who beat morrison fortune golota beats Fury imo but it's just an opinion, who knows though, fury could find a way

[polecateddy]

Bombadier Billy Wells
Tommy Farr
Henry Cooper
Joe Bugner
Frank Bruno
Lennox Lewis

Where does Tyson Fury rank ?

Lennox Lewis then Fury imo,prime Lewis,the one who beat morrison fortune golota beats Fury imo but it's just an opinion, who knows though, fury could find a way

Random to pick out Fortune. From memory it was the first post-McCall, Manny Stewart fight. Lewis was pretty tentative trying out some new skills, but did finish the fight was a nice uppercut in the 4th. Fortune was just an Aussie bodybuilder who could barely win a fight back in Oz. 2nd Rahman fight had Lewis in pretty determined mood. Reckon Fury would have gone splat against that Lennox.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Bombadier Billy Wells
Tommy Farr
Henry Cooper
Joe Bugner
Frank Bruno
Lennox Lewis

Where does Tyson Fury rank ?

Lennox Lewis then Fury imo,prime Lewis,the one who beat morrison fortune golota beats Fury imo but it's just an opinion, who knows though, fury could find a way

Lewis was a lot better technically, threw better punches, and was more composed than Fury.

He totally nullified Tua, who was arguably the most dangerous puncher of that era.

[polecateddy]

Bombadier Billy Wells
Tommy Farr
Henry Cooper
Joe Bugner
Frank Bruno
Lennox Lewis

Where does Tyson Fury rank ?

Lennox Lewis then Fury imo,prime Lewis,the one who beat morrison fortune golota beats Fury imo but it's just an opinion, who knows though, fury could find a way

Lewis was a lot better technically, threw better punches, and was more composed than Fury.

He totally nullified Tua, who was arguably the most dangerous puncher of that era.

Never in any danger with Tua. I could see Fury getting sloppy and getting nailed with one of those Tua left hooks.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Lennox Lewis then Fury imo,prime Lewis,the one who beat morrison fortune golota beats Fury imo but it's just an opinion, who knows though, fury could find a way

Lewis was a lot better technically, threw better punches, and was more composed than Fury.

He totally nullified Tua, who was arguably the most dangerous puncher of that era.

Never in any danger with Tua. I could see Fury getting sloppy and getting nailed with one of those Tua left hooks.

If you watch the fight early on, he lands several meaty hooks under Tua's ribcage early on, to stop him trying to rush in, and very quickly took away Tua's desire to take risks. After that he was in total control, and underrated performance, because Tua was a man who only needed one chance to detonate a left and it was over.

[polecateddy]

Lewis was a lot better technically, threw better punches, and was more composed than Fury.

He totally nullified Tua, who was arguably the most dangerous puncher of that era.

Never in any danger with Tua. I could see Fury getting sloppy and getting nailed with one of those Tua left hooks.

If you watch the fight early on, he lands several meaty hooks under Tua's ribcage early on, to stop him trying to rush in, and very quickly took away Tua's desire to take risks. After that he was in total control, and underrated performance, because Tua was a man who only needed one chance to detonate a left and it was over.

Yeah the pundits saw that Tua came in heavy and like you say never gave Lewis much credit. I’m pretty sure neither Fury or Joshua would’ve have got through quite so unscathed.

[danconnollyeire]

Who are Lewis's top five wins?

I'd place them that way:

1. Evander Holyfield - undisputed HW championship to determine the best fighter of the 90s.
2. Vitali Klitschko - a win over a one of the two dominant forces of the next generation.
3. Ray Mercer - I'd name Mercer the 5th boxer of the 90s, after Lewis, Holyfield, Bowe and Tyson.
4. Donovan Ruddock - seen as a favorite and possible future of the division back then, but was demolished in 2.
5. Andrew Golota - was coming off the beatdowns over Bowe, who before those had been seen as #1 by many.

The wins over Frank Bruno, Tommy Morrison, David Tua and Hasim Rahman are close to the top 5.

The Mike Tyson win is hard to be not mentioned, but in the 2000s Tyson was way past it.

It was the manner of the victories over Ruddock and Golota that elevate them, he absolutely destroyed both of them, like they were nothing, and both men were considered serious dangermen.

Also Grant (who turned out to be pretty bad) but still... the Americans were talking like Grant was gonna kill Lewis and it was impressive how Lewis walked straight through him

[jamesmcdonnell]

It wasn’t long ago most we’re saying how limited Wilder was and a one trick pony so I agree can’t judge Fury too much against Wilder.

Yes, I think we have to try and maintain some perspective, as exciting a fight as it was, it's not in and of itself evidence of greatness.

Fury is yet to beat another great heavyweight in their prime. I'm afraid Wlad doesn't count for either him or Joshua as he was ancient.

Sadly, the era isn't that stacked with talent, and a win over Usyk isn't enough to propel him into the pantheon of greats.

The only way I can see that happening is if Fury was more active and turned back all comers for a few years - I don't see that happening.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I'd place them that way:

1. Evander Holyfield - undisputed HW championship to determine the best fighter of the 90s.
2. Vitali Klitschko - a win over a one of the two dominant forces of the next generation.
3. Ray Mercer - I'd name Mercer the 5th boxer of the 90s, after Lewis, Holyfield, Bowe and Tyson.
4. Donovan Ruddock - seen as a favorite and possible future of the division back then, but was demolished in 2.
5. Andrew Golota - was coming off the beatdowns over Bowe, who before those had been seen as #1 by many.

The wins over Frank Bruno, Tommy Morrison, David Tua and Hasim Rahman are close to the top 5.

The Mike Tyson win is hard to be not mentioned, but in the 2000s Tyson was way past it.

It was the manner of the victories over Ruddock and Golota that elevate them, he absolutely destroyed both of them, like they were nothing, and both men were considered serious dangermen.

Also Grant (who turned out to be pretty bad) but still... the Americans were talking like Grant was gonna kill Lewis and it was impressive how Lewis walked straight through him

Oh yeah, another total dismantling, forgot about that. Lewis tore him to pieces.

[cormack]

If anyone thinks Joe Bugner could have beaten Or has achieved more than Anthony Joshua, then we are watching a different spot.

my granny would have done bugner in 3