Artur Szpilka (; born 12 April 1989) 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.
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.
On 30 June 2012, Szpilka fought Jameel McCline in à Âódà º, Poland, which he won by unanimous decision (UD). Szpilka's win over McCline and his perfect 12âÂÂ0 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.
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.
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.
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.
In 2022, it was announced that Szpilka would make his mixed martial arts debut against his former opponent in boxing, Serhiy Radchenko at on 18 June 2022. He won the bout via second-round technical knockout.
In his sophomore bout in the sport, Szpilka faced Denis Zaà ÂÃÂcki at High League 4 on 17 September 2022. He won the bout via first round technical knockout after Zaà ÂÃÂcki suffered a knee injury.
Szpilka was then scheduled to face Arkadiusz Wrzosek at on 21 January 2023. However, the bout was scrapped as Szpilka withdrew from the bout citing a back injury.
Szpilka faced Mariusz Pudzianowski at on 3 June 2023. He won the bout via technical knockout in the second round.
Szpilka faced Arkadiusz Wrzosek at on 11 May 2024. He lost the bout via knockout in the first round.
|- |Win |align=center|5âÂÂ1 |Michal MartÃÂnek |TKO (punches) | | |align=center|2 |align=center|2:07 |à Âódà º, Poland | |- |Win |align=center|4âÂÂ1 |Errol Zimmerman |Submission (arm-triangle choke) | | |align=center|1 |align=center|1:49 |Gliwice, Poland | |- |Loss |align=center|3âÂÂ1 |Arkadiusz Wrzosek |KO (punches) | | |align=center|1 |align=center|0:14 |Gdaà Âsk, Poland | |- |Win |align=center|3âÂÂ0 |Mariusz Pudzianowski |TKO (punches) | | |align=center|2 |align=center|0:31 |Warsaw, Poland | |- |Win |align=center|2âÂÂ0 |Denis Zaà ÂÃÂcki |TKO (knee injury) |High League 4 | |align=center|1 |align=center|0:41 |Gliwice, Poland | |- |Win |align=center|1âÂÂ0 |Serhiy Radchenko |TKO (submission to elbow) | | |align=center|2 |align=center|2:52 |Toruà Â, Poland | |-