Unbeaten Wilder to put title on line against Szpilka
NEW YORK: Unbeaten American Deontay Wilder will defend his share of boxing’s fractured heavyweight crown next month in New York against Poland’s Artur Szpilka, promoters announced on Wednesday.
Wilder owns the World Boxing Council title and was looking at a fight against Ukraine’s unbeaten Vyacheslav Glazkov, but when Britain’s undefeated Tyson Fury dethroned Wladimir Klitschko by unanimous decision last month, the landscape changed and a deal with Szpilka was made for a Jan 16 bout.
“I wish him luck. He’s going to need it,” Wilder said of Szpilka. “I look forward to winning over the Polish fans after I beat him.
“I know he’s a southpaw and he tends to give up when things get tough in the ring. He doesn’t have heart when it gets tough.”
Fury plans to fight a big-money rematch with Ukraine star Klitschko for the World Boxing Association title and two lesser-regarded crowns.
But because he will not next fight Glazkov, the International Boxing Federation’s mandatory challenger, the IBF has stripped him of its title and will award the vacant crown to the winner of a planned bought between Glazkov (21-0 with one drawn and 13 knockouts) and US southpaw Charles Martin (22-0 with one drawn and 20 knockouts).
Shrugging off the chaos in favour of climbing into the ring next will be Wilder, 35-0 with 34 knockouts.
His lone fight to go the distance was last January when he took a lopsided unanimous decision from Bermane Stiverne for the WBC title. It was Wilder’s first fight to last beyond the fourth round.
Since then, Wilder knocked out compatriot Eric Molina in the ninth round last June and stopped Frenchman Johann Duhaupas in the 11th round last September.
Now comes Szpilka, 20-1 with 15 knockouts. The 26-year-old southpaw was stopped in the 10th round by American Bryant Jennings last year but has won four fights since, including a match-up with Polish veteran Tomasz Adamek at Krakow.
“It feels amazing to get the opportunity to fight Deontay for his heavyweight world title,” Szpilka said.
“I can’t wait to be the first ever Polish heavyweight to win a world title. I’ve dreamed about this many times and now my time has come. I’ll be ready to put on a show for my fans and take his belt from him.”