Deontay Wilder vs Artur Szpilka - January 16th

[Redback Rasta]

That's the mail according to Dan Rafael.

In fact, it is already listed in Boxrec >>>

http://boxrec.com/boxer/473857

[Ilya Muromets]

Szpilka! January 16th - but BoxRec has a question mark next to the fight. If it happens I think Szpilka will win!

[Redback Rasta]

Szpilka! January 16th - but BoxRec has a question mark next to the fight. If it happens I think Szpilka will win!

Rafael had it January 17th. Have corrected it to 16th

[Redback Rasta]

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/14 ... ur-szpilka

Wilder will make the third defense of his belt when he faces Szpilka on Jan. 16 in a Showtime-televised main event at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

"You have one of the biggest Polish populations around the Barclays Center and in the New York/New Jersey area, and whatever you want to say about Szpilka, the guy is rugged and a brawler," promoter Lou DiBella, who will promote the fight, told ESPN.com on Tuesday night, confirming rumors that had been circulating for a few days that Szpilka would indeed be the opponent. "He won't stink the joint out. He'll make a good fight."

Wilder had hoped to announce a defense against Russian contender Vyacheslav "Czar" Glazkov on Saturday at a news conference at Barclays Center before the Daniel Jacobs-Peter Quillin middleweight title bout that took place later that night. Representatives for Wilder and Glazkov had been negotiating the fight for nearly two months but were hung up on some details. Then Glazkov elected to instead face Charles Martin for the IBF belt that Fury was stripped of.

[jezzamundo]

Szpilka isn't that good, but he has good pop and is a southpaw, so at worst he has a decent puncher's chance here. That said, I like Wilder to win by KO.

[Chepppaaa]

good fight

action with ko ending

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0UHYLUddTg

[diddy]

Decent fight. Better be Fury after.

[gregor]

Szpilka went life and death with old Mollo and IMO did not improve much from that time.

Granted, it was exciting, but I would not expect him to be competitive against any top fighter... just take a look when he fought Jennings.

[koolkc107]

This is actually as much or more of a challenge than a fight with Glazkov.

Similar records yet this one is a lefty.

Good fight on such short notice.

[tiny_acres]

Decent fight. Better be Fury after.

I would prefer Povetkin next and then the winner gets Fury.
This match up is not to bad. I am looking forward to it

[Tony1244]

I heard it hear first. Thanks Redneck Rasta!

People can't say Spilkva is a bum. Good fight.

[zorndeslammes]

My first inclination when I heard about this being possible last week was "ugh". Someone sold me on it though vs. Glazkov:

-Szpilka and Glazkov have the same best win, except Szpilka looked better doing it.

-Szpilka is a southpaw.

-Szpilka hasn't repeatedly needed to rely on judging help to get him Ws.

-Szpilka has been continuing to improve in the ring over the last couple years.

It's a solid developmental fight for Wilder. I like it. Worst case scenario is, what? Szpilka knocks Wilder into next month and there's a new Polish hero?

[jujigatame]

Better opponent than I expected, although I don't see why they didn't just go with Cunningham.

[Gnome]

It should be a good, entertaining bout - very crowd-pleasing. I have Wilder to win this though.

[Tanzio]

Better opponent than I expected, although I don't see why they didn't just go with Cunningham.

I prefer Szpilka over Cunningham by a bunch.

[Cutman Scabbers]

Szpilka went life and death with old Mollo and IMO did not improve much from that time.

Granted, it was exciting, but I would not expect him to be competitive against any top fighter... just take a look when he fought Jennings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYo5BmCizd8

[Tony1244]

Better opponent than I expected, although I don't see why they didn't just go with Cunningham.

I prefer Szpilka over Cunningham by a bunch.

I agree. Cunningham is a solid guy but has no power @ Heavyweight.

Also while it may not be PC to say, a match between a black American and a Polish guy will sell more tickets than a fight between 2 AA guys.

[crusader]

Szpilka went life and death with old Mollo and IMO did not improve much from that time.

Granted, it was exciting, but I would not expect him to be competitive against any top fighter... just take a look when he fought Jennings.

I agree.

Do people forget that he hardly won a round against Jennings and was stopped? I don't think beating a shell of Adamek in a close fight suggests that he's gotten better, and while he's not a bad opponent for Deontay to keep busy against it's been nothing but those types of fights since getting the belt. Hopefully Deontay and Povetkin come to terms and fight immediately after this.

[jujigatame]

Better opponent than I expected, although I don't see why they didn't just go with Cunningham.

I prefer Szpilka over Cunningham by a bunch.

I tend to agree, I'm just shocked they didn't go with the guy who's more well known and in many ways less dangerous due to his lack of size and power.

[Rexob]

Better opponent than I expected, although I don't see why they didn't just go with Cunningham.

I prefer Szpilka over Cunningham by a bunch.

I tend to agree, I'm just shocked they didn't go with the guy who's more well known and in many ways less dangerous due to his lack of size and power.

It's not worth the risk, remember he put the unified champion on his bum.

[Andrew]

This sums up my thoughts on the fight perfectly

https://www.instagram.com/p/_ClnnFjFq5/

[Redback Rasta]

It should be a good, entertaining bout - very crowd-pleasing. I have Wilder to win this though.

[Cutman Scabbers]

https://www.instagram.com/p/_AnQnBDFtP/

[DrunkenBoxer]

Not a bad match up but id rather like most people see Wilder fight Povetkin.

[Taki...]

Possibly Wilder's best opponent yet. A gatekeeper level fighter, who isn't immobile or ancient.
History suggests this is potentially a risky encounter for Wilder, but it's hard to say if victory will definitively prove anything. A solid top 10/15 boxer has already beaten Szpilka. What will be interesting are the tactics Wilder decides to adopt. Szpilka probably hits harder than Duhaupas and Molina -- where Wilder shipped plenty of shots that coming from heavier hands could've been terminal -- but lacks the kind of dig Stiverne packs. So, use the conditioning and the jab against against a fighter much quicker and more mobile than Stiverne, or stand and trade with a harder puncher than Molina?
Fascinating in a 'this in no way deserves to be a world title fight' kind of way.