Is Tyson Fury Really Great?

Promoter Frank Warren says Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are “the two best heavyweights of the 21st century”.

manufactured legacy

It’s hard to believe, though, as Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) doesn’t have the resume to back up that claim. In fact, the eye test shows that he’s not even among the top five of the division’s current heavyweights.

Tyson was just an overrated and careful job. If you look at Fury’s resume, there’s nothing to suggest he’s even in the top 20 heavyweights of this century. Throw him in with some of the talented contenders from this era or the past, and he’s going to tear up.

If you look back when the 21st century started, a lot of heavyweights would have beaten Fury if he had fought them from 2001 to 2012. This century started in 2001.

21st Century Heavyweights:

– Vitali Klitschko
– Lennox Lewis
– Wladimir Klitschko: *young version from 2001 to 2009
– Corrie Sanders
– Shannon Briggs
– Martin Bakole
– Moises Itauma
-Joseph Parker
– Zhilei Zhang
– Anthony Joshua
– Bakhodir Jalolov
– Daniel Dubois
– Jared Anderson

Fury would have lost to most, if not all, of these heavyweights. You can only imagine which South African southpaw Corrie Sanders would have done Fury with those left hands. The version of Sanders who knocked out Wladimir in the second round in 2003 would have made Fury’s job easier. He would have left the gypsy king on the canvas in a heap of torn flesh.

A shallow list of victories

The Gypsy King’s career was basically built around beating a 39-year-old Wladimir in 2015, and it wasn’t even an impressive performance. He barely beat the gunslinger, tore Klitschko to pieces. From there, Fury struck gold, thanks to careful matchmaking.

Fury’s best wins:

Wladimir Klitschko: *39 and over the hill
Deontay Wilder
Dillion Whyte: *traveler
Dereck Chisora: *Same as above
Otto Wallin
Francis Ngannou: * debutant 0-0
Steve Cunningham: *cruiserweight
Christian Hammer: Marginal Contender
Kevin Johnson: *joiner

“He’s one of the greats, and without a doubt he and Usyk are the two best heavyweights of the 21st century, that’s for sure,” Frank Warren told Sky Sports Boxing about Tyson Fury. “Look at the great fights they had. Those two fights, they were both incredible. Regardless of who you think won it, they were incredible fights.

“It takes two fighters to make great fights. Tyson is up there with every big name you can name. He’s done everything you can ask of him. He’s never been on a dull flight. All those fights you look back on, they were classic fights , dramatic. The drama of these fights is incredible,” Warren said, seeming to exaggerate his praise of Fury a bit.

“One of the greats!” 🙌 Frank Warren weighs in on Tyson Fury’s retirement announcement 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/WHGzAAr3KC

— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) January 13, 2025