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	(1989-04-12) 12 April 1989 Wieliczka, Poland
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

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

External links

• Artur Szpilka article at sport.pl (Polish)