Artur Szpilka Not Returning Until Early Next Year

By Luke Furman

Polish heavyweight contender Artur Szpilka (20-1, 15 KOs) had hoped to fight against by the end of the year, but his next return will not take place until early next year. The top rated heavyweight (WBC # 7, IBF # 7, WBO # 12) says his next fight could take place somewhere "around January."

Szpilka was active in 2015, stepping in the ring three times to get his groove going with new trainer Ronnie Shields of Texas.

He started looking for a new trainer earlier this year after signing on board with manager/adviser Al Haymon. He was knocked out last January by Bryant Jennings but  bounced back with a decision win over countryman Tomasz Adamek in November.

In working with Shields, he came back in April to knock out Ty Cobb in two rounds, the stopped Manuel Quezada in three rounds in June and then came back again in August to blow out Yasmany Consuegra in two rounds.

He says the next opponent will be a step up in class from his recent opposition as Shields continues to build up the 26-year-old fighter.

Luke Furman covers boxing for bosker.org.