Artur Szpilka

Artur Szpilka (born 12 April 1989) is a Polish professional boxer who has challenged once for the WBC heavyweight title in 2016.

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".

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 January 25, 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 straight right hand 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.