Artur Szpilka: record, next fight and profile →
Polish southpaw Artur Szpilka was interviewed by ShoBox expert analyst Steve Farhood during Friday’s ShoBox telecast as he prepares to challenge undefeated WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay Wilder on Saturday, Jan. 16 on SHOWTIME. During the interview, Szpilka warned Wilder that he’s coming to take his belt:
BROOKLYN – Undefeated WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay Wilder will make the third defense of his title against brawling Polish contender Artur Szpilka on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT). The 12-round SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® main event between the power-punching Wilder (35-0, 34 KOs), of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Szpilka (20-1, 15 KOs), of Wieliczka, Poland, will be the first heavyweight title fight in Brooklyn since James Jeffries knocked out James Corbett in the 23rd round on May 11, 1900, on Coney Island.
As the search ends for an opponent to face Deontay Wilder, the 2016 boxing schedule finally has its first notable fight. Terms were reached Tuesday evening for Wilder to make the third defense of his World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight title versus Artur Szpilka. Word of the two sides reaching an agreement came mere hours after BoxingScene.com learned that Szpilka had reemerged as front runner to land the fight, which takes place January 16th at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Deontay Wilder will celebrate his one-year anniversary as a heavyweight titlist the best way a boxer can – in the ring. A dance partner is still being sought for his January 16th headliner at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. That item is expected to be buttoned up in the next day or so, according to reliable sources close to the situation. The frontrunner to land such a fight is Artur Szpilka, who became the most logical choice once Vyacheslav Glazkov was pulled from negotiations in favor of pursuing a now vacant heavyweight belt.
He wasn’t in the actual fight itself – although ringside security sought to pick one with him at one point – but Artur Szpilka couldn’t help but get caught up in the non-stop action that came with Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez’ off the canvas 3rd round knockout of Michael Seals. Their light heavyweight headliner made for yet another thrilling main event on Spike TV, this one airing Friday evening live from Beau Rivage Resort & Casino. Szpilka was ringside to support his training stablemate Rodriguez, as both take their ring instructions from noted trainer Ronnie Shields.
It's been a heck of a career turnaround for Artur Szpilka. The southpaw heavyweight contender from Poland has stormed back from the lone loss of his career to claim four straight wins, beginning with a unanimous decision over countryman Tomasz Adamek last year and three knockouts in 2015. The hope was to end 2015 with a bang, as the 26-year old was due to face fellow southpaw Amir Mansour in an NBC-televised crossroads bout on December 12 in San Antonio. Those plans were changed in an instant, with the fight still due to happen but now carrying a "TBA" in the way of a scheduled date.
If Artur Szpilka is going to go anywhere in the heavyweight division, then he’s going to need to beat Amir Mansour when they fight on Dec. 12 in San Antonio. And Szpilka’s trainer, Ronnie Shields, knows that isn’t necessarily an easy proposition. “He’s the kind of guy he’s going to keep trying until something happens,” Shields said. “We know he’s a tough fight.”
A crossroads fight between fan-friendly heavyweights Artur Szpilka and Amir Mansour is presently slated to take place on a Dec. 12 card in San Antonio, according to Ronnie Shields, who trains Szpilka. The fight would take place on the same show as another crossroads heavyweight bout pitting Chris Arreola against Travis Kauffman.
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."
According to sources in Poland, including Ringpolska.pl, WBC #14 and former two-time world-title challenger Chris Arreola (36-4-1, 31 KOs) is being considered as the next opponent for comebacking Polish heavyweight gun Artur Szpilka (20-1, 15 KOs).