SAM CONQUERS RIOM
Tyson to pick up £10 for Vegas bow but insists he won’t stumble against Schwarz CYCLING: CRITERIUM DU DAUPHINE
TYSON FURY will pocket more than £10million for his Las Vegas debut this weekend – and insists he won’t make the same costly mistake as Anthony Joshua.
The former world heavyweight champion believes his bumper £80m contract with US promoter Top Rank means there will be no slip-up against underdog Tom Schwarz.
Fury, 30, is 50/1 ON with some bookmakers against Schwarz at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in the early hours of Sunday with a rematch with WBC heavyweight Deontay Wilder on the cards for early 2020.
But Fury knows a slipup against the unfancied
German would scupper all his hopes.
Just over a week ago, fellow Brit Joshua surrendered his WBA, WBO and IBF titles to Andy Ruiz (top, right) in a massive shock defeat, which turned the division on its head.
But Fury said: “When you get paid as much as I am, motivation is easy, very easy.
“As we saw last week, you can’t overlook anybody. This is heavyweight boxing and Tom Schwarz knows if he beats Tyson Fury, he’s set for life. He becomes a multi-millionaire, he gets to headline big shows and all his dreams come true.
“But you’re talking to a king. I’ll figure him out within the first five seconds of the fight.”
This is the first bout of Fury’s 30-month deal with Top Rank and broadcaster ESPN which could be worth £80m if all goes to plan.
The iconic venue on the Strip is not expected to be a sell-out but Top Rank are confident they can build Fury’s profile in the States. And that will make a rematch with Wilder next year even more lucrative.
“For the first Wilder fight, they just saw Fury as the opponent,” said Top Rank chief Bob Arum.
“They didn’t see him as the attraction. Our goal is to make him the attraction. If you ask me about left hooks and right crosses then other people know more than I do, but I’m talking about something completely different when it comes to promoting. I feel he can make a connection with the American people.”
Schwarz, who is unbeaten in 24 fights, is seeking inspiration from German boxing great Max Schmeling.
Schmeling shocked boxing when he knocked American Joe Louis out in the 12th round at Yankee Stadium in New York in 1936, a fight that was clouded in political tension.
“Schmeling saw something in Joe
Louis and shocked the world by knocking him out,” said Schwarz. “83 years on its time for a German to do it again.” second lead over Guillaume Martin. British pair Chris Froome and Adam Yates both remain in the top 10 – 24 seconds behind Teuns. Yorkshire’s Lizzie Deignan was pipped to victory by Dutch rider Marianne Vos, who claimed the second stage of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour at the Kent Cyclopark.