Tom Schwarz has vowed to retire after establishing himself as the world's leading heavyweight by becoming the first to defeat Tyson Fury.
The 25-year-old German fights out of Europe for the first time on Saturday at Las Vegas' MGM Grand, where he has been selected as Fury's opponent on the occasion of the Briton's first fight in the Sin City.
If Fury was not already considered the world's leading heavyweight when, while considered the lineal champion, he followed outpointing Wladimir Klitschko with December's draw against Deontay Wilder when he deserved victory, his reputation grew when Anthony Joshua was stopped by Andy Ruiz Jr.
Key fight details
- When: Saturday, June 15.
- Time: Around 5am UK time on Sunday morning
- Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
- TV Channel: BT Sport Box Office (£19.95)
- Sky Bet Odds: Fury 1/33, Schwarz 12/1 (Click for odds)
- Fighter records: Fury (27-0-1, 19 KOs), Schwarz (24-0, 16 KOs)
The little-known Schwarz has been presented with the opportunity to transform his life in the same way as Mexico's Ruiz Jr, and having fought out of Germany for almost the entirety of his career and admired the great Klitschko from afar, he is convinced Fury remains the world's best.
It is for that reason that if he secures victory as the underdog in a non-title fight, Schwarz believes he will already have peaked as a professional fighter and insists he will then never fight again because even a world title would not represent a greater height.
"When I beat Tyson Fury, I will retire," Schwarz told Press Association Sport. "I'll have fought the best in the world and won against the best of the world. I'll be the best in the world.
"This will be bigger than winning a world heavyweight title. He beat Klitschko so he's the best.
"He's crazy; before the fight he f**** with people. Not me though, no.
"This is the same thing he does before fights with opponents (to hide his nerves).
"His message (about depression and mental health) is very great and people love him.
"Now I know him; I saw him eye-to-eye. At a staredown he can behave how he wants. He respects me and I respect Tyson Fury."
Schwarz was referring to Fury attempting to entertain those present at Wednesday's final press conference, when he told the German at their face-off that he was "good looking".
As the significant underdog a potential victory would likely prove as big a shock as Ruiz Jr's win over Joshua, which took place just two weeks ago at New York's Madison Square Garden and changed the landscape of the heavyweight division, as well as the owner of the IBF, WBA and WBO titles.
"It was a great fight, the little fat boy f**** Joshua," added Schwarz, who like Fury is undefeated. "It was great; emotional. I watched thinking I could be the next person to do this."
Fury v Schwarz: Tale of the Tape
- 30 Age 25
- 28 Fights 24
- 27 Wins 24
- 19 KOs 16
- 1 Draws 0
- 0 Losses 0
- 172 Rounds boxed 89
- 6ft 9in Height 6ft 5.5in
- Orthodox Stance Orthodox
- 85in/216cm Reach N/A
- 18st 11lbs Weight 17st 7.5lbs
