by David P. Greisman
Artur Szpilka wasn’t officially announced as Deontay Wilder’s opponent until Dec. 9, meaning there were only 38 days between when Szpilka was named for the Jan. 16 card and when he will step in the ring to challenge for the heavyweight title.
But he’s not worried about that affecting his preparation. He was already back in the gym, he said, and there had been talk beforehand that Wilder would be next.
“Something told me, ‘Artur, don’t be rest because something big happen. Something big story coming. You must train,’ ” he recalled on a Dec. 16 media conference call. “I think OK, I have workout, but easy, I will be good eat and everything. And listen, one week after this, I come back for workout where I train so hard. And two weeks after, somebody call me, ‘Maybe you will fight with Deontay Wilder, heavyweight champion of the world.’ ”
Five months will have passed from Szpilka’s last fight by the time he faces Wilder; he made short work of Yasmany Consuegra on Aug. 14, his fourth straight win since an early 2014 stoppage loss to Bryant Jennings.
Szpilka turned pro as a cruiserweight in 2008 and fought there until 2009. After serving jail time, he returned to the ring about two years later as a heavyweight at 242.5 pounds, according to BoxRec, was at 239 for a fight later in 2011 and has been lighter since. He was at 223.75 for the Jennings loss and 223 for a win over Tomasz Adamek, then has been at 234, 231 and 231 in his three wins in 2015.
Wilder speaks with pride about always being in great shape. He was a lanky 200 pounds when winning Olympic bronze but has filled out his 6-foot-7 frame more since, coming in at a fit 219 for his title win over Bermane Stiverne, 229 for his defense against Eric Molina and 228.75 for his victory over Johann Duhaupas.
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