{"id":57038,"date":"2015-12-10T00:47:02","date_gmt":"2015-12-10T05:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=57038"},"modified":"2015-12-10T00:47:02","modified_gmt":"2015-12-10T05:47:02","slug":"deontay-wilder-shocks-boxing-world-with-announcement-breaking-boxing-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=57038","title":{"rendered":"Deontay Wilder SHOCKS Boxing World with Announcement – Breaking Boxing News"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"image001\"<\/a>Undefeated WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay Wilder will make the third defense of his title against brawling Polish contender Artur Szpilka on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, live on SHOWTIME\u00ae (9 p.m. ET\/6 p.m. PT).<\/p>\n

The 12-round SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING\u00ae main event between the power-punching Wilder (35-0, 34 KOs), of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Szpilka (20-1, 15 KOs), of Wieliczka, Poland, will be the first heavyweight title fight in Brooklyn since James Jeffries knocked out James Corbett in the 23rd round on May 11, 1900, on Coney Island. <\/p>\n

Jeffries fought in all three of the Brooklyn heavyweight title fights, which were the fourth, fifth and seventh world heavyweight title fights of the modern gloved era. All three took place on Coney Island, two in 1899 and the final in 1900.<\/p>\n

It will be Wilder\u2019s first fight in New York and his ninth overall on Showtime Networks. Wilder is the first United States-born heavyweight champion since 2007.<\/p>\n

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Warriors Boxing and Sferis Knockout Promotions, start at $25, not including applicable fees, and are on sale Monday, December 14 at 10 a.m. ET. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets will also be available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center beginning Tuesday, December 15 at noon. Purchase before January 1 and receive a 10% discount. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m excited about coming to New York City, I\u2019m excited about displaying my talents and I\u2019m excited about fighting at Barclays Center,\u201d said Wilder. \u201cI want to thank my opponent Artur Szpilka for accepting this opportunity that I\u2019m giving him. I wish him luck \u2013 he\u2019s going to need it. I look forward to winning over the Polish fans after I beat him. I know he\u2019s a southpaw and he tends to give up when things get tough in the ring, going off the fight he had with Bryant Jennings. He doesn\u2019t have heart when it gets tough. I look forward to giving the fans plenty of action and excitement on Jan. 16.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels amazing to get the opportunity to fight Deontay for his heavyweight world title,\u201d said Szpilka. \u201cI can\u2019t wait to be the first ever Polish heavyweight to win a world title. I\u2019ve dreamed about this many times, and now my time has come. I\u2019ll be ready to put on a show for my fans and take his belt from him on Jan. 16.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt should be an exciting night on Jan. 16 when the \u2018Bronze Bomber\u2019 defends his title, for the first time at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, against rugged brawler Artur Szpilka,\u201d said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. \u201cBrash and outspoken, the Polish fighter looks to derail Deontay and become the first Polish heavyweight champion of the world in boxing history. This is Deontay’s third title defense in 12 months and a victory will lead to a major clash in his next bout.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m very excited that Artur Szpilka is getting an opportunity to become the first heavyweight champion in the history of Poland,\u201d said Leon Margules, President of Warriors Boxing. \u201cWe\u2019re thrilled that Artur will be able to fight for the title in a boxing-rich city like Brooklyn and in front of what will undoubtedly be a strong showing of support from his Polish fans.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING has been the home of many of the biggest and best heavyweight world title fights of the last 30 years, and we are proud to continue that legacy with Deontay Wilder,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “Deontay has used his rare blend of raw power, athleticism and charisma to become one of the can\u2019t-miss boxers of this era. Credit Artur Szpilka for accepting the challenge. Szpilka is a young, strong southpaw with good power and a flair for showmanship, and he is eager to make the most of his first world title opportunity. January 16 is sure to be an exciting night on SHOWTIME.\u201d<\/p>\n

“It took 115 years, but Heavyweight Championship boxing is back in Brooklyn,\u201d said Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark. \u201cI spent some time with Deontay at the Jacobs-Quillin fight last Saturday and he can\u2019t wait to defend his title at Barclays Center, but it won\u2019t be easy. Artur Szpilka is a great fighter and is sure to be well represented by the \u2018Little Poland\u2019 neighborhood of nearby Greenpoint. The borough is ready for Heavyweight Championship boxing. It was worth the wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 6-foot-7 Wilder will be making his third title defense and fourth fight in 364 days. The 30-year-old won the WBC belt with a unanimous decision over Bermane Stiverne on Jan. 17, 2015 in Las Vegas, in his first professional fight to go past the fourth round.<\/p>\n

Wilder successfully defended the belt against Eric Molina (KO 9) last June 13 and most recently against Johann Duhaupas (TKO 11) on Sept. 26. Both of the title defenses took place in his home state of Alabama.<\/p>\n

The last heavyweight champion to fight four times in 12 months was Lennox Lewis in 2000-01. Lewis was also the last undisputed heavyweight champion.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to being the next undisputed heavyweight champion and the most active heavyweight champion in history,\u201d Wilder said. \u201cI\u2019m also active once I get into the ring. In my last fight, I landed an average of 30 of the 53 punches that I threw each round. That was more than double what Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko landed, combined.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before turning pro in November 2008, Wilder won the bronze medal at heavyweight for the U.S. at the 2008 Olympic Games. He is the last American male boxer to medal in The Olympics.<\/p>\n

The aggressive-minded, 6-foot-3 Szpilka has won four consecutive fights since suffering the only loss of his career to then-undefeated Bryant Jennings in 2014. The 26-year-old rebounded with a 10-round unanimous decision over former cruiserweight world champion Tomasz Adamek in 2014 and stoppage victories over Yasmany Consuegra, Manuel Quezada and Ty Cobb in 2015.<\/p>\n

A pro since 2008, the southpaw first gained notice when he stopped the once-touted Owen Beck in four rounds in 2011, then unanimously outpointed former world title challenger Jameel McCline the following year.<\/p>\n

Szpilka has honed his boxing skills under the tutelage of Houston-based trainer Ronnie Shields. While he is still predisposed to brawling and coming forward, Szpilka has developed into a more complete fighter under Shields and one that could be the toughest test of the young world champion\u2019s career.<\/p>\n

Brooklyn has a deep history in heavyweight boxing, including hometown heavyweight champions Mike Tyson, Floyd Patterson, Riddick Bowe, Shannon Briggs and Michael Moorer. In addition, Brooklyn-native and 1984 Olympic Gold medalist Mark Breland serves as one of Wilder\u2019s coaches.<\/p>\n