Career
Artur Szpilka, who used to be a fan of Polish football team Wisła Krakow, was noticed as a potential natural boxing talent by a boxing coach during a pre-arranged brawl with fans of the opposing Kansas 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 Krakow football club"s fans and their Kansas 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 "North" category (in Polish lit "Dangerous ").
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". His latest serious challenger was Mike Mollo with whom in 2013 he fought twice.
Szpilka"s winning secured the fight with Mike Mollo in 2013, the winning by knock out resulted in consequent revenge.
The first fight was over in the sixth round, the second in the fifth, Mollo became grounded unable to rise. On January 25, 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 New York
Szpilka lost the fight by referee stoppage in the final round.