Tyson Fury’s unbeaten opponent Tom Schwarz says he will draw on the inspiration of the Gypsy King himself, proclaiming he “will shock the world” here on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Schwarz was ringside the night Fury defeated Wladimir Klitschko in Dusseldorf in 2015. Identical to Schwarz, Fury was an unfancied underdog with a 24-0 record at the time.
Schwarz, 25, also believes he can repeat what heavyweight underdog Andy Ruiz Jr did against Anthony Joshua in New York when he faces Fury. “Max Schmeling saw something in the world champion Joe Louis and shocked the world by knocking him out,” said Schwarz. “Eighty-three years on, it’s time for a German to do it again.”
Schwarz – just like Joshua’s vanquisher Ruiz – was picked on as a child for “being fat”. He said: “I was 11 or 12 when I began boxing. People tried to bully me and mocked me for being fat. I was a little fat boy. I had loads of fights so I went into boxing. Now I’m proud to be part of the world-class level of heavyweight.”
Schwarz explained that he began to truly believe in himself three and a half years ago, helped by Fury’s performance. “After I won the WBC youth heavyweight title, I really thought I could become a world-class heavyweight. And it was two weeks after that Tyson Fury won against Wladimir Klitschko and I was there, ringside on the night. It was inspiring.
“Boxing has given me a reason in life. I was crazy like Fury is, as a younger man. I had street fights and would be out all night. Not gangs or drugs but I think without boxing I would not have a life.”
Schwarz, 6ft 5in tall, has one thing on his mind for Saturday night. “Knockout, yeah. I have a picture in my mind. I must knock him out to beat him. My unbeaten record comes from my big heart, my good skills. All that was evident as soon as I turned professional at 17. I have watched all Fury’s fights many times. I know him like myself. We have a plan.
“It’s like Ruiz with Joshua. He proved that if you have the ability and are fit, focused and prepared, you can shock the world champion. That’s a big motivation for me. When I beat Fury – one of the greatest in boxing and I believe the No 1 – I am boxing one of the greatest in the MGM Grand. I looked at videos of the MGM when I was a kid with Floyd Mayweather boxing there and dreamed of one day fighting here. Now I am here. I gave my whole life, all for this moment.”
Schwarz added: “He’s been saying that if I beat him he would have to retire. Well, if I win I might as well retire. I will have beaten the best heavyweight in the world so what more targets would be there for me ? I will be the first one to beat Fury. Then I will have won the lineal championship. That’s been my dream since I first went to a boxing gym, when I was nine or 10. I will have done it.”
Promoter Bob Arum told critics of the fight. “We picked [Schwarz] because he’s 6ft 5in and if Tyson keeps winning he will be fighting Deontay Wilder again. So no small guys. He’s ranked by all the organisations – at No 2 by the WBO. He’s popular in Germany and as we all saw in New York with Joshua the other day, in heavyweight boxing anything can happen.”
This Article First Appeared On The Telegraph