By Cassandra Cousineau
LVSportsBiz.com
First, they sang today. Then they danced. And on Saturday evening Tyson Fury (27-0-1, 19 KO) and Tom Schwarz (24-0, 16 KO) will fight each other. MGM Grand Garden Arena on the Strip will serve as the location for heavyweights representing the U.K. and Germany respectively in a non-title bout. The two men were incredibly relaxed and even joking in the final press conference before the event Wednesday mid-day.
Appropriately, it was held in the MGM’s David Copperfield Theater as Fury grabbed the mic and delivered a magical performance before the host, promoters, and trainers could even be seated on the stage.
Sporting a colorful, checkered suit patterned with hundreds of images, paying homage to a century’s worth of pugilists, the soon to be 31-year-old explained his choice of fashion. “I thought it was fitting. A bit loud like my personality. We’re in Las Vegas, so why not.”
His opponent, Schwarz, played along before settling into his chair allowing the “Fury Show” to continue on center stage. The 26-year-old appeared calm and collected ahead of the biggest fight of his career as he went face-to-face with Fury for the first time.
Tom, “not Thomas,” clarified his trainer, Roberto Norris, is aware of the moment. “The eyes of the world will be on Las Vegas this Saturday night and for that, I’m very honored and excited. It will be a great fight and I’m coming to win it and shock the world.”
The heavyweight fight is just two weeks removed from Andy Ruiz Jr.’s upset of Fury’s countryman, Anthony Joshua. LVSportsBiz.com asked Fury who he’d pick to prevail between newly crowned Andy Ruiz Jr. and Deontay Wilder, “Ruiz has no chance. Wilder is too quick and too athletic. Much more than Joshua.”
The 6’6’’ Schwarz claimed to have faced hundreds of sparring partners in preparation for his meeting with Fury. Vegas odds have the charismatic and humble Gypsy King as a massive Vegas favorite at -3000 odds.
For just a moment the mood turned serious when Fury brought up his well-chronicled battles with mental illness. “I talk about mental health a lot because it’s very important to me. Only 18 months ago, I was in a very, very dark place. I just wanted to prove to people that there is a way back. You can come back from anything. Nothing is impossible, and if you’d seen me a time ago when I was very heavy and very unwell… I love to inspire people to get better and change their lives as I did mine. And I’m living proof that anyone can change.”
He even trained with Shaolin Monks in Mongolia for eight weeks prior to traveling to Las Vegas. After the brief mention of Fury’s mental health, he lighted the room back up breaking into a booming rendition of Human by Rag’n’Bone Man.
Top Rank’s CEO Bob Arum, is optimistic for a sell out in Vegas. “I’m delighted with the reception this fight has received. We have just a few hundred tickets left. By fight night we’ll be sold out. We’re also on pace to have a record number of new subscribers who will be tuning in for this fight and for the great card we have on ESPN+.”
Regardless of Saturday’s heavyweight boxing result in Las Vegas, Tyson Fury won the final press conference.
“It’s quite humbling, to be honest. It’s a very great experience to be here, Las Vegas, MGM Grand. It’s where all the great fights happen. Seeing your face on all the movie screens and posters is great.”
FURY vs. SCHWARZ will take place Saturday at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT at MGM Grand Garden Arena, and will be produced by Top Rank and ESPN and streamed live on ESPN+. Tickets priced at $500, $300, $100 and $50 are on sale now can be purchased online through axs.com, charge by phone at 866-740-7711 or in person at any MGM Resorts box office.
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