Wilder, Szpilka send message to heavyweight rivals

Shafikov faces Barthelemy for vacant lightweight crown

NEW YORK, Dec 17, (AFP): Unbeaten world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder and his next challenger, Poland’s Artur Szpilka, took aim Wednesday at rival champion Tyson Fury in announcing their Jan 16 matchup in New York.

Wilder, a 30-year-old American, will make his third defense of the World Boxing Council crown at Barclays Center against Szpilka, who is in his first world title bout.

“I’m knocking out Szpilka and I’m sending a message to everyone who stands in my way,” said Wilder, who has set his sights on an undisputed throne. “I’m looking for a grand show. It’s going to be a great performance to kick off 2016. This is going to be a huge year for me.”

Wilder, 35-0 with 34 knockouts, would be looking at Fury, who improved to 25-0 with 18 knockouts by dethroning Ukraine’s Wladimir Klitschko last month in Dusseldorf.

Klitschko and Fury will meet in a World Boxing Association title rematch next year but after that, Wilder wants a chance at the winner.

“Once I knock Szpilka out, I want all the Polish fans to come on the ‘Bronze Bomber’ train as I bring the heavyweight division back to the top,” Wilder said.

“I’m the guy who has everything it takes to be heavyweight champion of the world. It’s not just about being great inside the ring, it’s about being able to do great things outside of the ring. Not everyone has that. I love to be out there with the people.”

Another possible foe for Wilder if he gets past Szpilka is the winner of the fight for the vacant International Boxing Federation crown, taken from Fury for not fighting Ukranian mandatory challenger Vyacheslav Glazkov, who is expected to fight for the IBF crown against Uzbek Ruslan Ghagaev.

Unbeaten Cuban Rances Barthelemy fights for his second world title on Friday when he faces Russian southpaw Denis Shafikov in Las Vegas for the vacant International Boxing Federation lightweight crown.

Barthelemy, 23-0 with 13 knockouts, owned the IBF super featherweight title last year but dropped it to rise into the lightweight ranks. He was won three times since then, most recently a unanimous decision over American Antonio DeMarco last July.

Shafikov, 36-1-1 with 19 knockouts, lost his only prior world title fight by unanimous decision last year to Mexico’s Miguel Vazquez. Since then, he has won three times, the most recent a third-round stoppage of Indonesian Roy Mukhlis last July in Macau.

US fighter Mickey Bey won a split decision over Vazquez to claim the crown last year but vacated it rather than make a mandatory defense against Shafikov last July in Macau, setting the stage for Friday’s matchup.