Artur Szpilka
Artur Szpilka | |
---|---|
Szpilka in 2013 | |
Statistics | |
Nickname(s) | Szpila ("The Pin") |
Rated at | Heavyweight |
Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) |
Reach | 193 cm (76 in) |
Nationality | Polish |
Born |
Wieliczka, Poland | 12 April 1989
Stance | Southpaw |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 22 |
Wins | 20 |
Wins by KO | 15 |
Losses | 2 |
Artur Szpilka (born 12 April 1989) is a Polish professional boxer who has challenged once for the WBC heavyweight title, in 2016.[1]
Professional career
Szpilka, who used to be a fan of Polish football team Wisła Kraków, was noticed as a potential natural boxing talent by a boxing coach during a pre-arranged brawl with fans of the opposing KS Cracovia football club outside a disco in Wieliczka. The coach suggested that Szpilka put on boxing gloves and that he should try boxing. Consequently, Szpilka signed a contract with Bullit KnockOut Promotions.
Szpilka's career was interrupted in October 2009 prior to a bout with Wojciech Bartnik in Lodz, Poland, when Szpilka was arrested following the weigh-in, due to his earlier involvement in a brawl between Wisła Kraków football club's fans and their KS Cracovia rivals. Consequently, he was found guilty and he served 18 months in prison for participation in that street brawl. He has been assigned the "N" category (in Polish lit. "Dangerous [inmate]").
About February 2012, Szpilka again came to an international attention challenging Dereck Chisora as he recalls: "I called my promoter Andrzej Wasilewski proposing if he could arrange a fight with Chisora".
His latest serious challenger was Mike Mollo with whom in 2013 he fought twice. On June 30, 2012 Szpilka fought Jameel McCline in Lodz, Poland, which he won by a unanimous decision. Szpilka's winning secured the fight with Mike Mollo in 2013, the winning by knock out resulted in consequent revenge. Both bouts Szpilka won by an early knock out, despite that in bout he was knocked down and counted. The first fight was over in the sixth round, the second in the fifth, Mollo became grounded unable to rise.
On January 25, 2014 Szpilka was defeated by Bryant Jennings. Jennings initially was to face Mariusz Wach, however Wach pulled out of the fight and Szpilka stepped in as he called out Jennings on Twitter and the fight was arranged shortly afterwards. The fight took place on January 25, 2014 in Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Szpilka lost the fight by referee stoppage in the final round.
On January 16, 2016 he fought for WBC world heavyweight championship against defending champion Deontay Wilder. Szpilka proved an awkward opponent for Wilder with his elusive style, making the champion miss on many occasions. Unfortunately for Szpilka, while advancing closer to Wilder in round nine, he was caught by a hard straight right hand to the temple which knocked him out.
Professional boxing record
Professional record summary | ||
22 fights | 20 wins | 2 losses |
By knockout | 15 | 2 |
By decision | 5 | 0 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
23 | N/A | N/A | Feb 2017 | |||||
22 | Loss | 20–2 | Deontay Wilder | KO | 9 (12), 2:24 | 16 Jan 2016 | Barclays Center, New York City, New York, US | For WBC heavyweight title |
21 | Win | 20–1 | Yasmany Consuegra | RTD | 2 (8), 3:00 | 14 Aug 2015 | Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, US | |
20 | Win | 19–1 | Manuel Quezada | RTD | 3 (8), 3:00 | 12 Jun 2015 | UIC Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois, US | |
19 | Win | 18–1 | Ty Cobb | TKO | 2 (8), 1:46 | 24 Apr 2015 | UIC Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois, US | |
18 | Win | 17–1 | Tomasz Adamek | UD | 10 | 8 Nov 2014 | Tauron Arena, Kraków, Poland | Won vacant IBF International heavyweight title |
17 | Loss | 16–1 | Bryant Jennings | TKO | 10 (10), 2:20 | 25 Jan 2014 | The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US | |
16 | Win | 16–0 | Mike Mollo | TKO | 5 (10), 1:41 | 16 Aug 2013 | US Cellular Field, Chicago, Illinois, US | |
15 | Win | 15–0 | Brian Minto | UD | 10 | 15 Jun 2013 | Łuczniczka, Bydgoszcz, Poland | |
14 | Win | 14–0 | Taras Bidenko | RTD | 2 (10), 0:01 | 20 Apr 2013 | Hala Podpromie, Rzeszów, Poland | |
13 | Win | 13–0 | Mike Mollo | KO | 6 (8), 2:45 | 1 Feb 2013 | UIC Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois, US | |
12 | Win | 12–0 | Jameel McCline | UD | 10 | 30 Jun 2012 | Atlas Arena, Łódź, Poland | |
11 | Win | 11–0 | Gonzalo Basile | KO | 4 (10), 1:43 | 2 Jun 2012 | Łuczniczka, Bydgoszcz, Poland | Won vacant WBC Silver Baltic and WBC Silver Youth heavyweight titles |
10 | Win | 10–0 | Terrance Marbra | TKO | 1 (6), 2:46 | 24 Mar 2012 | Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US | |
9 | Win | 9–0 | David Saulsberry | KO | 2 (6), 1:09 | 5 Nov 2011 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, US | |
8 | Win | 8–0 | Owen Beck | RTD | 4 (6) | 15 Oct 2011 | Spodek, Katowice, Poland | |
7 | Win | 7–0 | David Williams | KO | 1 (4), 1:53 | 29 Jul 2011 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, US | |
6 | Win | 6–0 | Ramiz Hadziaganovic | KO | 1 (4), 0:33 | 25 Jun 2011 | Hala Podpromie, Rzeszów, Poland | |
5 | Win | 5–0 | Jeremy May | KO | 1 (4), 1:20 | 31 Jul 2009 | Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida, US | |
4 | Win | 4–0 | Zoltan Kallai | PTS | 4 | 16 May 2009 | GranTeatro, Rome, Italy | |
3 | Win | 3–0 | Viktor Szalai | TKO | 1 (4), 1:46 | 28 Feb 2009 | Lublin, Poland | |
2 | Win | 2–0 | Mihaly Nemet | TKO | 2 (4), 0:53 | 29 Nov 2008 | Spodek, Katowice, Poland | |
1 | Win | 1–0 | Senol Cente | UD | 4 | 18 Oct 2008 | MOSiR Hall, Zabrze, Poland | Professional debut |
References
- ↑ Professional boxing record for Artur Szpilka from BoxRec. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
External links
- Artur Szpilka article at sport.pl (Polish)