Artur Szpilka
Artur Szpilka is a Polish mixed martial artist and former professional boxer who competed from 2008 to 2021. He challenged once for the WBC heavyweight title in 2016. He holds a notable win over former two-weight world champion Tomasz Adamek.
Early life
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
Early career
On 30 June 2012, Szpilka fought Jameel McCline in Łódź, Poland, which he won by unanimous decision. Szpilka's win over McCline and his perfect 12–0 record secured him a fight with Mike Mollo in 2013; he overcame two knockdowns to beat Mollo by a sixth-round knockout. An attempt at revenge by Mollo saw Szpilka winning again by knockout, this time in the fifth, though Szpilka once again had to overcome a knockdown.Szpilka vs. Jennings
On 25 January 2014, Szpilka suffered his first defeat against Bryant Jennings. Jennings initially was to face Mariusz Wach, however Wach pulled out of the fight, and Szpilka stepped in after calling out Jennings on Twitter. The fight took place in Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Szpilka lost the fight by referee stoppage in the final round.Szpilka vs. Adamek
Later that year, on 8 November 2014, Szpilka scored his most significant win with a ten-round UD over former light-heavyweight and cruiserweight world champion Tomasz Adamek.WBC heavyweight title challenge
Szpilka vs. Wilder
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.Return to the ring
Szpilka vs. Kownacki
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.Szpilka vs. Wach
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.Szpilka vs. Chisora
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 his 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
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 29 | Loss | 24–5 | Lukasz Rozanski | KO | 1, 2:25 | 30 May 2021 | Podpromie Hall, Rzeszów, Poland | For vacant WBC International bridgerweight title |
| 28 | Win | 24–4 | Serhiy Radchenko | 10 | 7 Mar 2020 | Hala Sportowa im. Olimpijczykow, Łomża, Poland | ||
| 27 | Win | 23–4 | Fabio Tuiach | KO | 1, 1:27 | 26 Oct 2019 | Hala Sportowa Zeromskiego 9, Sosnowiec, Poland | |
| 26 | Loss | 22–4 | Derek Chisora | KO | 2, 1:01 | 20 Jul 2019 | The O2 Arena, London, England | |
| 25 | Win | 22–3 | Mariusz Wach | 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, 1:37 | 15 Jul 2017 | Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York, US | |
| 22 | Loss | 20–2 | Deontay Wilder | KO | 9, 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, 3:00 | 14 Aug 2015 | Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, US | |
| 20 | Win | 19–1 | Manuel Quezada | RTD | 3, 3:00 | 12 Jun 2015 | UIC Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois, US | |
| 19 | Win | 18–1 | Ty Cobb | TKO | 2, 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, 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, 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, 3:00 | 20 Apr 2013 | Hala Podpromie, Rzeszów, Poland | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Mike Mollo | KO | 6, 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, 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, 2:46 | 24 Mar 2012 | Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | David Saulsberry | KO | 2, 1:09 | 5 Nov 2011 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, US | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Owen Beck | 4, 3:00 | 15 Oct 2011 | Spodek, Katowice, Poland | ||
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | David Williams | KO | 1, 1:53 | 29 Jul 2011 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, US | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Ramiz Hadziaganovic | KO | 1, 0:33 | 25 Jun 2011 | Podpromie Hall, Rzeszów, Poland | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Jeremy May | 1, 1:20 | 31 Jul 2009 | Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, Florida, US | ||
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Zoltan Kallai | 4 | 16 May 2009 | GranTeatro, Rome, Italy | ||
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Viktor Szalai | TKO | 1, 1:46 | 28 Feb 2009 | Lublin, Poland | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Mihaly Nemet | 2, 0:53 | 29 Nov 2008 | Spodek, Katowice, Poland | ||
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Senol Cente | 4 | 18 Oct 2008 | MOSiR Hall, Zabrze, Poland |
Pay-per-view bouts
| Date | Fight | Pay-per-view buys | Network | Source |
| 8 November 2014 | Tomasz Adamek vs. Artur Szpilka | 100,000 | Cyfrowy Polsat PPV | |
| Total sales | 100,000 |