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SPORTS Saturday 15 June 2019
Sin City suits him: Tyson Fury

makes Vegas debut vs. Schwarz

By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
Although Tyson Fury is the
heavyweight division’s lin-
eal champion and one of
its best fighters in recent
years, this British behemoth
would be a gifted enter-
tainer in just about any

In this Friday, June 7, 2013 file photo, Britain’s Christopher Froome arena.
of the Sky Procycling team celebrates with the yellow jersey on Whether he’s performing
the podium after the sixth stage of the 65th Dauphine cycling with brute grace inside the
race between La Lechere and Grenoble, French Alps. ring or poignantly retelling
Associated Press the story of his battles with
Ban for 2011 Vuelta substance abuse and de-
pression outside it, Fury (27-
winner Cobo could 0-1, 19 KOs) holds an audi-
ence spellbound like few
give title to Froome boxers in recent history.
He even loves to sing , par-
ticularly after his bouts — al- Tyson Fury, left, of England, and Tom Schwarz, of Germany, pose
AIGLE, Switzerland (AP) — Juan Jose Cobo has been beit with more enthusiasm during a news conference for their upcoming fight Wednesday,
banned from cycling for three years after being found than skill. June 12, 2019, in Las Vegas. Associated Press
guilty of doping in 2011, the year he won the Spanish A man of his diverse talents
Vuelta. is a natural for the sport’s er side of the Atlantic. ing a 2 ½-year spiral in the
Cobo’s ban puts 2011 Vuelta runner-up Chris Froome in biggest stages — and Fury “I was born for U.S. fighting. wake of his shocking victo-
line for a seventh Grand Tour title. is finally in the world’s fight The British are very reserved. ry over Wladimir Klitschko.
The International Cycling Union says Cobo has been capital on Saturday night. For a confident, brash talk- He also takes pride in less-
found “guilty of an anti-doping rule violation.” The UCI Sin City has a mythic al- er like myself, you have to ening the stigma around
says the case was “based on abnormalities from 2009 lure for many Brits in gen- come to America to be ap- public discussion of mental
and 2011 detected in his biological passport.” eral, and for nearly all box- preciated. I always wanted health issues, including de-
The now-retired 38-year-old Spanish rider won the three- ers — including Fury, who to be here as a boxer. Now pression.
week Vuelta for his first Grand Tour title in September once told himself that he that I’m signed with a big “People don’t talk to me
2011, finishing 13 seconds ahead of Froome. Bradley Wig- wouldn’t visit Vegas unless U.S. TV station, it’s my time about boxing anymore,”
gins was third. he was fighting there. to put on great shows.” Fury said.
The UCI says Cobo has a one-month deadline to file an “Fighting in Las Vegas is In the wake of Anthony “It’s not what I talk about
appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.q an honor for a boxer, and Joshua’s stunning loss to with people. They talk to
I feel I’m ready to wear the Andy Ruiz Jr. two weeks me constantly about men-
part,” Fury said. “It suits me ago, Fury says he is appro- tal health, because people
down to the ground.” priately wary of the 6-foot- are suffering. They feel it’s
After starring in London, 5 Schwarz, who hits hard OK to approach me and
Dublin, Düsseldorf, New enough to change any speak to me about it. I get
York and Los Angeles, fight with the right shot. millions of messages from
the Manchester native fi- But Fury accepted this all over the world, people
nally gets his Vegas debut bout to stay sharp while constantly talking about
against Germany’s un- he waits for a chance at my problem. I’ve become
beaten Tom Schwarz at the the world’s other two elite an ambassador for mental
MGM Grand Garden. heavyweights — actually, health in sports.”
The 6-foot-9 Fury has al- make that three after Ruiz’s Fury doesn’t have the raw
ready captured the at- shocker. knockout power of Wilder
tention of American fight Fury and Wilder couldn’t or Joshua, and he won’t
fans with his performances agree to an immediate promise a knockout of
stateside, none bigger than rematch after Fury signed Schwarz.
his theatrical rise from the with co-promoter Top Rank He plans to use his elite
canvas in the 12th round and muddied the political boxing skill to earn a victory
to earn a thoroughly enter- situation with Wilder, who that will keep him on track
taining draw with Deontay moved on to stop Dominic for bigger, flashier stateside
Wilder at Staples Center in Breazeale in the first round fights in the near future.
his last bout six months ago. last month. And if he breaks into song
Not many observers expect Fury settled on Schwarz for after the bout for his debut
Fury to need similar recu- his next showcase in pro- as a Vegas crooner, no-
perative powers against moter Bob Arum’s quest to body will be surprised.
Schwarz (24-0, 16 KOs), turn him into a household “I can only try and be my-
who has never fought any- name in the U.S. self,” Fury said.
one close to Fury’s stature. While Fury has a history “I’m not trying to sell you a
But Fury still intends to put of offensive public state- product. I’m just being me.
on a show. ments, he has behaved If people like me, they’ll
“It’s very different, but it’s much better with his sub- watch. If they don’t, then
what I was born to do,” Fury stance abuse problems ap- they’ll kick me out of the
said of his fights on the oth- parently behind him follow- country.”q