The weights are in for Saturday’s doubleheader on Showtime from Brooklyn, with Deontay Wilder vs. Artur Szpilka, and Vyacheslav Glazkov vs. Charles Martin.
WBC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Deontay Wilder
vs.
Artur Szpilka
Tuscaloosa
, AL
Wieliczka,
Poland
35
–
0, 34 KO’s
20
–
1, 15 KO’s
228.7 lbs
233.2 lbs
12 ROUNDS
–
IBF WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Charles Martin
vs.
Vyacheslav Glazkov
Carson, CA
Lugansk, Ukraine
22
–
0
–
1, 20 KO’s
21
–
0
–
1, 13 KO’s
249.5 lbs
218 lbs
8 ROUNDS
–
HEAVYWEIGHTS
Adam
Kownacki
vs.
Danny Kelly
Brooklyn, NY
Washington D.C.
12
–
0, 10 KO’s
9
–
1
–
1, 8 KO’s
252.8 lbs
231.2 lbs
8
ROUNDS
–
CRUISER
WEIGHTS
Mike Lee
vs.
Joseph Gardner
Chicago, IL
Woonsocket, RI
15
–
0, 9 KO’s
11
–
8
–
1, 1 KO
177.6 lbs
178 lbs
4
ROUNDS
–
JUNIOR
WELTER
WEIGHTS
Julian Sosa
vs.
Bryan Timmons
Brooklyn, NY
St. Joseph, MO
3
–
0
–
1, 1 KO
3
–
6, 3 KO’s
141.2 lbs
139.6 lbs
6 ROUNDS
–
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS
(SWING BOUT)
Carlos Gongora
vs.
Derrick Adkins
Brooklyn, NY
Edmond, OK
3
–
0, 2 KO’s
1
–
0
–
1, 1 KO
170.6 lbs
171.2 lbs
4
ROUNDS
–
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Ramil Gadzhiev
vs.
Botirsher Obidov
Boca Raton, FL
Kissimmee, FL
1
–
0, 1 KO
3
–
0
–
1, 1 KO
161.2 lbs
160.8 lbs
8
ROUNDS
–
SUPER
WELTER
WEIGHTS
Ivan Golub
vs.
Juan
Rodriguez Jr.
Brooklyn, NY
Union City, NJ
9
–
0, 7 KO’s
1
2
–
3
,
5
KO’s
147 lbs
146.8 lbs
10
ROUNDS
–
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Maciej Sulecki
vs.
Derrick Findley
Warsaw, Poland
Chicago, IL
21
–
0, 6 KO’s
22
–
17
–
1, 14 KO’s
161 lbs
161.8 lbs
DEONTAY WILDER
“I’m so happy to be here in the ‘Big Apple.’ It’s been over 115 years since there’s been a heavyweight title fight in Brooklyn and you’ve invited your ‘country friend’ to end that streak.
“Everything has happened at the right time in my life. Even the people I’ve met in my career have come at the right time. I still think about the first time I met Lennox Lewis and he took the time out to talk to me and he showed me different techniques. I’ll never forget.
“Lennox was one of those guys that set the standard. He’s a hard act to follow. But I love a challenge. Everybody has had struggles coming up. Now my children are my motivation and that’s what has made me strong physically and mentally.
“Here we are in 2016, with a young champion trying to follow in the footsteps of a great champion to become undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
“People who know me know that if I say I’m going to do something, I’m doing it. I am hungry. I am determined. I’m not playing with anybody in 2016. I don’t say things just to sound good. My actions will speak for themselves.
“This is a great card. Two heavyweight title fights in one night. It doesn’t get much better than that. The heavyweight division is exciting again. Having someone like me, it’s only going to get better.
“I take pride in what I do and what I have. I’m very honored to have the WBC belt. I even have the belt tattooed on my body. It’s not going anywhere. But there are more belts that I want. It’s going to be a long journey and a tough path to fulfill. But I’m that man.
“When people say the heavyweight champion of the world, I want one person to be recognized. I wish my opponent and all future opponents good luck, cause they’re going to need it.
“We’re not looking past Artur Szpilka. Things happen due to adrenaline and excitement, but I’m very confident about what I’m going to do on Saturday night. He wants to be the first Polish heavyweight champion of the world. You know he’s coming to make history.
“This is going to be a hard fight, but a fun fight. Everyone who sees this fight, they’re going to get their money’s worth. It’s going to be a great show. I cannot wait. Waiting is the hardest part of boxing.”
ARTUR SZPILKA
“I’m so happy to fight in front of so many great Polish fans. I want to be the first Polish heavyweight champion of the world. I want to do it.
“There’s no pressure on me. The pressure is on Deontay because I just want to be a world champion, he already is.
“I’m not just here to get my paycheck. Everyone who knows me, knows I come to fight. I don’t just want to win; I want to win in spectacular fashion.
“I have a bunch of friends coming in from Chicago but the next 48 hours will be mostly relaxing. I have a couple small training sessions with Ronnie (Shields) but that’s it.
“I know you have to have a great respect for your opponent and I used to have respect for him. But after what he has said about me, I have a problem. You have to prove it in the ring. He has to do it in the ring, not outside the ring. He can say whatever he wants, but we will see it in the ring.
“I will fight hard and after the fight you will hear ‘The New Heavyweight Champion of the World.’ ”
CHARLES MARTIN
“I’m so thankful to be in this position. Everyone who put this together and got me here, I owe them everything. I want to thank my mom for making me a strong guy. We went through everything together. We’ve seen it all.
“It’s starting to get real. I can feel my aggression coming out. I’m a Taurus, I’m a bull. I get mean when it’s time to fight. That’s what I want to bring into the ring on Saturday night. Controlled aggression.
“I’m a nice person but when it’s time to go, I have an angry heart.
“I train for every fight like a title fight. Mentally there was nothing to gear up for. I’m strong mentally. I’ve been running up in the mountains and doing a lot of rounds.
“We’re in great shape after being in one camp for eight weeks and then taking a week off before we got back to it. It was a great training camp.
“I’m happy and excited. I’m looking forward to this fight on Saturday and taking what’s mine.
“I’m so sick of talking about what Glazkov does well, I just want to see if he can do it well against me.”
VYACHESLAV GLAZKOV
“Thank you everyone who supports me and loves boxing. This is a big opportunity for me. I’m 100 percent ready. This will be a good fight and I hope everyone is watching.
“I feel good. I’ve trained very hard. I’m very ready for this fight. Everything is in place for me to become world champion.
“Charles is a big guy. He’s a lefty but he hasn’t fought good opponents. He’s a big strong guy, but it’s the heavyweight division. Everyone is strong. This will be a good fight.
“All of my past fights have helped me get ready for this one. I want all of the belts. This is the first step towards my dream.”
