WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder won’t be confused with the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis or Mike Tyson anytime soon. The man known as “The Bronze Bomber” doesn’t possess the classic, precision boxing skills as Louis, the footwork, speed or elusiveness as Ali or the hypnotic head movement as Tyson’s bob and weave. However, the 6-foot-7 American heavyweight does have a signature trait that has propelled him to the top of the heavyweight division – raw, unadulterated power. Wilder (36-0, 35 KO) put that fight-altering –ending power on display Saturday night.
The charismatic Wilder faced Artur Szpilka (20-2, 15KO) at the Barclay Center. It was the first night in 115 years that heavyweight titles were on the line in Brooklyn. Szpilka was seeking to become the first Polish fighter to wear a major title around his waist. Days before the fight, Szpilka initiated a small scuffle during a press event when he head-butted Wilder as the two were jaw-jacking. During the fight, the crafty southpaw proved to be just as pesky as he fared better than many expected throughout the fight. A heavy underdog, Szpilka used movement and solid boxing to neutralize Wilder’s jab and his wide, looping right hands over the first eight rounds of the fight. He ate a few big shots, but remained undeterred. Though Wilder was up on the scorecards, Szpilka fought well and was certainly in the fight. Then came the ninth round.
Wilder gave the fans (well, maybe not the loud and proud Polish fans that were in the building) what they’d been waiting for. The tower of power from Tuscaloosa caught Szpilka lunging in and launched a perfectly-placed right hand at his opponent’s chin. Szpilka was asleep as soon as Wilder’s monster shot touched his jaw. The referee could’ve counted to 1,000 as Szpilka laid motionless on the canvas for several minutes as doctors rushed to his aid. He was later carried off to the hospital in a stretcher for overnight observation. Meanwhile, Wilder got a big win in front of a big crowd and simultaneously raised his profile.
Immediately after the fight, Wilder was visited in the ring by WBA and WBO champion Tyson Fury. Fury dethroned Wladimir Klitschko in November to become the man most consider as the ‘real’ heavyweight champion of the world. The 6-foot-9 Fury attempted to steal Wilder’s spotlight by getting in his face, calling him out and putting on a WWE worthy show on the microphone. Wilder, never shy for words, took it all in stride and promised to hurt Fury badly if he was brave enough to sign a fight contract.
As exciting as the notion of a Fury vs Wilder fight may be, the reality is that both have difficult obligations to fulfill in their next bouts. Fury is set to give Klitschko a rematch later this year and Wilder is set to face his mandatory contender, Alexander Povetkin in his next bout. Should the two champions both emerge victorious in their upcoming bouts, it could set up the most highly-anticipated heavyweight title fight in years.
St. Louis native wins IBF Heavyweight Title
The undercard bout for Wilder vs Szpilka featured St. Louis native Charles Martin versus #1 IBF contender Vyacheslav Glazkov. The bout was for the IBF version of the heavyweight title. Fury won the strap from Klitschko but was stripped just days after his victory for opting for a Klitschko rematch instead of facing Glazkov. (Gotta love those sanctioning bodies.)
While I’m sure Martin has dreamed of becoming heavyweight champion of the world for years, the victory probably didn’t come like he wished. Glazkov slipped after landing a body shot during the third-round. After getting to his feet with a noticeable limp, Glazkov twisted his knee and went down again moments later after Martin landed a glancing blow. With a suspected torn ACL, Glazkov was unable to continue and thus Martin claimed the vacant title.
In Martin’s defense, it’s certainly no fault of his that Glazkov was injured and forced to quit early. Martin showed up ready to fight and acquitted himself relatively well over three largely uneventful rounds. Winning via injury won’t earn him legions of fans or universal acclaim. However, having a title around his waist will provide Martin with a rash of opportunities to prove himself as a legit champion. Fringe contenders are already calling out the STL southpaw. He and his team have some interesting decisions to make on his future plans.
Clutch or Nah
Nah: LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers getting mollywhopped 132-98 by the Golden State Warriors was embarrassing. After their fourth loss, the overrated chatter had started about the defending champs. Stephen Curry and Co. shut up that talk really quickly by making the Cavs look like that D-League team in Philly.
Clutch: Former CBC hoops standout Jordan Barnett has completed his transfer from the University of Texas to the University of Missouri. Per NCAA rules, Barnett will have to sit out until the start of the second semester next year, but nabbing the former Top 100 prep player is a boon for the boys in Boone County. Mizzou generally struggles to nab top talent out of St. Louis. Barnett took the scenic route, but he’s back home and should play a key role down the line for the Tigers.
Nah: Mizzou and Kansas are no longer in the same conference and the sad sack Jayhawks refused to maintain the rivalry after Mizzou shook the Big 12 for the SEC. As a Tiger alum, it still brings me great joy to see the No. 3 Jayhawks get shellacked 86-67 by unranked Oklahoma State. Sure, the Tigers are struggling to play .500 basketball but that’s not important. In down seasons, your joy must come from the demise of your foes, even old ones. Thanks KU!
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