Tyson Fury will fight at least twice before Wilder rematch

Tyson Fury will have at least two ‘warmup’ fights before a highly anticipated rematch with Deontay Wilder can take place.

That’s according to the Brit’s US promoter Bob Arum, who spoke following the confirmation of Fury’s next clash against the unheralded Tom Schwarz.

After cementing Fury’s June 15 bout with Schwarz in Las Vegas, the Top Rank CEO said: “Assuming Fury wins this fight, he’ll have another appearance in the United States. Then hopefully next year in February he’ll end up fighting Wilder.”

The news will come as a disappointment to boxing fans, who had pined for a re-run between the undefeated Fury and Wilder following their dramatic 12-round draw back in December 2018 – with the WBC ordering an immediate rematch.

Lucrative ESPN deal throws spanner in works

However, Fury went on to pen a five-fight, £80-million deal with ESPN and promotional Arum’s Top Rank in February, throwing the contest into doubt. Shortly after that contract was made public, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed that Wilder-Fury II had been postponed to a later date.

Fury’s long-time UK promoter Frank Warren subsequently announced that ESPN and Top Rank had requested a tune-up fight for the ‘Gypsy King’, in order for him to receive exposure from a mainstream US audience before stepping back in the ring with Wilder.

While that announcement left a bitter taste in the mouths of many, the standing of Fury’s next opponent – as well as the knowledge that he will fight another bout before facing Wilder, who himself is set to face Dominic Breazeale in May – will leave hardcore boxing fans enraged.

Who is Tom Schwarz?

Ranked number two in the world by the WBO (whose inter-continental heavyweight strap he holds), but as the fifth-best heavyweight in Germany by Boxrec, the 6’5″ Schwarz (24-0) has no names of any real value on his record. Indeed, he’s fought only twice outside of his native country.

The matchup will evoke memories of Fury’s farcical return bouts against Sefer Seferi and Francesco Pianeta last year after his three-year absence from the sport; seeing the 30-year-old take on low-risk opponents that are frankly beneath him yet again will annoy fans and do little to increase his drawing power stateside or domestically.