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Artur Szpilka
Artur Szpilka (Chicago).JPG
Szpilka in 2013
Born (1989-04-12) 12 April 1989 (age 35)
Wieliczka, Poland
Nickname(s) Szpila ("The Pin")
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 224 lb (102 kg; 16 st 0 lb)
Division
  • Bridgerweight (Boxing)
  • Heavyweight (Boxing)
  • Heavyweight (MMA) (2022–present)
Reach 76 in (193 cm)
Style Boxing
Years active 2008–present (boxing)
2022–present (MMA)
Professional boxing record
Total 29
Wins 24
By knockout 16
Losses 5
By knockout 5
Mixed martial arts record
Total 4
Wins 3
By knockout 3
Losses 1
By knockout 1

Artur Szpilka ([ˈartur ˈʂpilka]; born 12 April 1989) is a Polish professional boxer and mixed martial artist. He has challenged once for the WBC heavyweight title in 2016. He holds a notable win over former two-weight world champion Tomasz Adamek.

Background

Szpilka was born in Wieliczka, Poland in 1989. He has said he was a football hooligan before a local boxing coach suggested he should take up boxing instead. As an amateur, Szpilka won the Polish national heavyweight title and reached the quarterfinals of the Junior world championships before turning professional in 2008. In October 2009 when he was 20 years old, he was arrested for being involved in a brawl between rival football fans and spent 18 months in prison.

Professional career

On 30 June 2012, Szpilka fought Jameel McCline in Lodz, Poland, which he won by unanimous decision (UD). 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 25 January 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 25 January 2014 in Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Szpilka lost the fight by referee stoppage in the final round. Later that year, on 8 November 2014, Szpilka scored his most significant win following a ten-round UD over former light-heavyweight and cruiserweight world champion Tomasz Adamek.

On 16 January 2016 he fought for the WBC heavyweight title 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 right hook on the chin which knocked him out cold. He remained on the canvas for several minutes and needed to be stretchered out of the ring.

About a year and a half after the Wilder fight, Szpilka made his comeback in New York against compatriot Adam Kownacki. Kownacki was in control for most of the fight, dropping Szpilka and subsequently getting a TKO victory in the fourth round. His next fight was against American Dominick Guinn, whom he defeated by Unanimous Decision. After that, Szpilka had another all-Polish main event, this time against former heavyweight world title challenger Mariusz Wach. Szpilka was visibly smaller and was hit flush several times, and at times the fight seemed like it was going to be stopped. However, in the end he succeeded in edging out Wach by a tiny margin and won by split decision.

On 20 July 2019, Szpilka fought former world title challenger Derek Chisora. In what was expected to be an action-packed and entertaining fight, Chisora managed to make easy work out of the Pole and knocked him out in the second round. In 2020 Szpilka moved down to cruiserweight and won his first fight against Serhiy Radchenko by way of majority decision.

Mixed martial arts career

In 2022, it was announced that Szpilka would make his mixed martial arts debut against his former opponent in boxing, Serhiy Radchenko at KSW 71: Ziółkowski vs. Rajewski on 18 June 2022. He won the bout via second-round technical knockout.

In the sophomore bout in the sport, Szpilka faced Denis Załęcki at High League 4 on 17 September 2022. He won the bout via first round technical knockout after Załęcki suffered a knee injury.

Szpilka was then scheduled to face Arkadiusz Wrzosek at XTB KSW 78: Materla vs. Grove 2 on 21 January 2023. However, the bout was scrapped as Szpilka withdrew from the bout citing a back injury.

Szpilka faced Mariusz Pudzianowski at XTB KSW 83: Colosseum 2 on 3 June 2023. He won the bout via technical knockout in the second round.

Szpilka faced Arkadiusz Wrzosek at XTB KSW 94: Bartosiński vs Michaliszyn on 11 May 2024. He lost the bout via knockout in the first round.

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary
29 fights 24 wins 5 losses
By knockout 16 5
By decision 8 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
29 Loss 24–5 Lukasz Rozanski KO 1 (10), 2:25 30 May 2021 Podpromie Hall, Rzeszów, Poland For vacant WBC International bridgerweight title
28 Win 24–4 Serhiy Radchenko MD 10 7 Mar 2020 Hala Sportowa im. Olimpijczykow, Łomża, Poland
27 Win 23–4 Fabio Tuiach KO 1 (10), 1:27 26 Oct 2019 Hala Sportowa Zeromskiego 9, Sosnowiec, Poland
26 Loss 22–4 Derek Chisora KO 2 (10), 1:01 20 Jul 2019 The O2 Arena, London, England
25 Win 22–3 Mariusz Wach SD 10 10 Nov 2018 Arena Gliwice, Gliwice, Poland
24 Win 21–3 Dominick Guinn UD 10 25 May 2018 National Stadium, Warsaw, Poland
23 Loss 20–3 Adam Kownacki TKO 4 (10), 1:37 15 Jul 2017 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York, US
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 and Republic of Poland International heavyweight titles
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 Won vacant WBC interim Baltic heavyweight title
14 Win 14–0 Taras Bidenko RTD 1 (10), 3:00 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 Baltic Silver and WBC Youth Silver 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), 3:00 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 Podpromie Hall, Rzeszów, Poland
5 Win 5–0 Jeremy May KO 1 (4), 1:20 31 Jul 2009 Hard Rock Live, 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

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
4 matches 3 wins 1 loss
By knockout 3 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 3–1 Arkadiusz Wrzosek KO (punches) XTB KSW 94: Bartosiński vs. Michaliszyn May 11, 2024 1 0:14 Gdańsk/Sopot, Poland
Win 3–0 Mariusz Pudzianowski TKO (punches) XTB KSW 83: Colosseum 2 3 June 2023 2 0:31 Warsaw, Poland
Win 2–0 Denis Załęcki TKO (knee injury) High League 4: Natsu vs. Lexy 2 17 September 2022 1 0:41 Gliwice, Poland
Win 1–0 Serhiy Radchenko TKO (submission to elbow) KSW 71: Ziółkowski vs. Rajewski 18 June 2022 2 2:52 Toruń, Poland Catchweight (231 lb) bout.

Pay-per-view bouts

Date Fight Pay-per-view buys Network Source(s)
8 November 2014
Tomasz Adamek vs. Artur Szpilka
100,000
Cyfrowy Polsat PPV
Total sales 100,000

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2018 Pitbull: Last Dog Boxer 1
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