There's also 2 ways of looking at it.
One is greatness relative to the contemporaries (with the level of the contemporaries also being factored in), and the other is H2H across eras.
Fury wouldn't make the cut (as of now) in the former but in the latter, he loses to who? Lewis? Vitaly? Maybe Foreman (he was huge for his day but still "only" like 6'3 and 225ish)? The likes of Sonny Liston or Ali or Holyfield or Tyson are too small IMO.
He's just too much of a dancing bear at 6'9 and 275-295.
Fury is technical and talented, but he doesn't have the punching power to match his size. Plus, he could be outboxed as well, especially by smaller boxers who throw more punches.
The way I see it:
Ali would outbox him. No doubt in my mind, would win a very wide UD. Holmes too. Nobody wins a boxing match vs Ali on points. You have to knock him out. Fury can't do it. Not enough brute power. Technique-wise, Fury is great, but Ali is the most technical boxer of all time, and his jaw was granite. Actually, I think Ali is one of the worst match-ups for Fury. Fury is big, but he doesn't know how to use that and turn it into power. He uses his superior height and reach for technical purposes, especially for defensive exploits. That doesn't help him against superior technical fighters, and also not against exceptional close-range fighters.
It may seem like Tyson is a good match-up for Fury, but still, whenever he gets inside, the potential of a KO looms large. Fury is not a very good fighter on the inside. He's all about keeping control with his range. This works against Tyson up to a point. Hollyfield beats him too, even more probably than Tyson. You just don't knock out Holly, and the man threw so many punches... very difficult combination of warrior mentality, toughness, natural great genes (boosted with the magic of roids
), technique.
I'd have Fury exposed vs elite boxers from all three areas: big, strong puncher-boxers like Lewis (worst match-up, because he's like Fury with more weapons of choice and much more power), more technical fighters than him, even if smaller (Like Ali, or even Hollyfield, due to not enough KO power from Fury, not that it helps much since they are famous iron-jaws), and close-range monsters like Tyson.
He does great vs big guys that can't box very well (Joshua possibly, but even he a KO is on the cards for Joshua). I think he has a decent shot vs Foreman out of the elite fighters due to Foreman being more robotic and not as much of a boxer, although it's hard to know how good Fury's chin is (probably Foreman KOs him if he catches him well). Or smaller fighters who are not exceptional boxers (so no Ali, Hollyfield class).
