by Cliff Rold
Some have called it the first major card of the year in the US. Just because Saturday’s show is on premium cable (Showtime, 10 PM EST/7 PM PST), and features two different heavyweight belts on the line, doesn’t make it major.
If an upset occurs in the main event, it would have reverberations. 2008 US Olympic Bronze Medalist and WBC beltholder Deontay Wilder has some star potential. He’s one of the only American Heavyweights on the scene right now who can really say that.
The rest of the division is still dominated by non-Americans. The only Heavyweight champ that counts, Tyson Fury, is based in the UK. Former champ Wladimir Klitschko, even nearing forty, is probably still the next best in class. Cuba’s Luis Ortiz has a lot of fresh buzz and the two best prospects in the division are from the UK (Anthony Joshua) and New Zealand (Joseph Parker).
There could be an intriguing storyline eventually of Wilder versus the world. There won’t be any intrigue until the quality of his foes gets consistently better. To his credit, Wilder was in talks to face a real contender who ended up on his undercard this weekend and may next face accomplished veteran Alexander Povetkin.
For now, we have Wilder in his third straight defense with someone who no one but sanctioning bodies really think is one of the ten best Heavyweights in the world. To date, Wilder has still only beaten one foe (Bermane Stiverne) that qualifies as such.
At least challenger Arthur Szpilka has been in with some real guys and even beat a faded Tomasz Adamek. As a ‘title’ fight, this is eons better than the support bout.
The other title fight on Showtime this weekend is for a belt vacated when Fury opted not to pursue an IBF mandatory defense against Vyacheslav Glazkov (21-0-1, 13 KO). Some have defended the IBF because they’re actually following their own rules, something other sanctioning bodies can be less apt to do without shenanigans.
The problem is the IBF having Glazkov as their number one contender in the first place.
We’re talking about a fighter who has been more really lucky in two or three decisions to date and appeared little more than ordinary as a professional. Glazkov was in talks to face Wilder. When Fury won last year, the chance to capture a vacant belt on an easier path emerged. Sanctioning body ratings rarely are about merit so Glazkov beating Tomasz Adamek, drawing with Malik Scott, and skating by Steve Cunningham and Derric Rossy to get a mandatory isn’t that shocking.
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Taking what appears the path of least resistance and maybe get a belt out of it isn’t either.
Belts might not make one the best in their class but their economic value is clear. This card, which going in has a quality resemblance to a better night of the old Friday Night Fights shows, is all the evidence one needs of that.
That Charles Martin (22-0-1, 20 KO) is the man he faces, even among all the odd sanctioning body ratings, should be. At the very least, it’s appalling. Martin has a pretty record and, hey, he might even win. He’s a good athlete with some pop.
That’s not the point.
Martin, unlike Glazkov, hasn’t defeated or faced anyone in the current IBF top 15. His last five opponents are a pedestrian 106-28-1. Three of them were coming off a loss, two of them by knockout. Of the two who weren’t, one was one fight removed from being knocked out and the other had just come off a five-fight losing streak where he was stopped three times.
It’s less than Wilder did to become a WBC mandatory and that’s really saying something. For the IBF, this sort of run is enough to be one of the highest available contenders for Glazkov to fight for a belt taken off a guy who had to beat Wladimir Klitschko to earn his crown.
The IBF might follow its own rules but the only thing positive to be said for Martin’s position is it’s still better than when the IBF gave Vaughn Bean two mandatory cracks at their belt.
As noted, Martin might be athletic enough to win. He’ll certainly have an edge in size. That doesn’t make him genuinely deserving of an opportunity to get into the heavyweight title picture no matter how the fight plays out.
Here’s something to keep an eye on.
Martin, like Wilder, is part of the Al Haymon stable. If Martin wins, could there be a scenario where Wilder opts to abandon the WBC belt (and Povetkin mandatory) and instead faces Martin for the IBF belt?
Time will tell but it’s food for thought.
For now, let’s go the report card for the main event.
The Ledgers
Deontay Wilder
Age: 30
Title: WBC Heavyweight (2015-Present, 2 Defenses)
Previous Titles: None
Height: 6’7
Weight: 228 ¾ lbs.
Hails from: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Record: 35-0, 34 KO
Rankings: #3 (BoxingScene, TBRB, Ring), #4 (BoxRec, ESPN)
Record in Major Title Fights: 3-0, 2 KO
Current/Former World Champions Faced: 2 (Sergey Lyakhovich KO1; Bermane Stiverne UD12)
Vs.
Artur Szpilka
Age: 26
Title/Previous Titles: None
Height: 6’3
Weight: 233 ¼ lbs.
Hails from: Wieliczka, Poland
Record: 20-1, 15 KO
Rankings: Unrated
Record in Major Title Fights: 1st Title Opportunity
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: 1 (Tomasz Adamek UD10)
Grades
Pre-Fight: Speed – Wilder A-; Szpilka B
Pre-Fight: Power – Wilder A-; Szpilka B-
Pre-Fight: Defense – Wilder B; Szpilka C+
Pre-Fight: Intangibles – Wilder B+; Szpilka B
One of the things that jumps out here is Szpilka’s weight. He’s about ten pounds higher than he was for a career best win over Adamek or his gutsy loss to Bryant Jennings. The fight was made on relatively short notice and that may be reflected on the scales. Is Szpilka in his best shape? How does that affect his approach?
Szpilka can present some odd angles from the southpaw side and throws a nice, straight left hand. He’s been on the canvas before and got up to keep fighting so he won’t just blow over. This is his first, and perhaps only, title shot. The awkward southpaw will give it his best.
Wilder showed against Stiverne that he can use his legs effectively. In all of his last three fights he displayed solid output and stamina. 32 of his 90 career rounds came in 2015. He may have some chin issues still lingering but his conditioning appears to be an asset. Szpilka is his best opponent since Stiverne and is comfortable going rounds.
Both men can be hit but Szpilka is the more hittable of the two. His head movement is okay but he often forgets to tuck his chin. He was stopped by the much lighter hitting Bryant Jennings and had to come off the floor in a war with journeyman Mike Mollo. Szpilka isn’t that quick and so timing will be his best bet. Wilder is dramatically faster and in exchanges should get to target first. Wilder can definitely punch so that puts Szpilka in a lot of danger every second of the fight.
If the Polish challenger can set up just the right left hand, can he use moments of Wilder aggression against him? If he can’t, his slim chances might resemble another fellow who just left town.
The Picks
While there was no report card for the match (it didn’t merit one), there is a pick in Glazkov-Martin. The thinking here is Martin is too inexperienced to win. As ordinary as he can look, Glazkov was one of the best amateurs in the world and has seen dramatically better as a pro. It would be poetic justice if Glazkov finally had a bad decision go against him after trying to take the easiest path to a belt. It is more likely Glazkov gets a decision nod.
Wilder-Szpilka, for a first defense, would have been fine. This is Wilder's third straight no hoper on paper so it’s not. Szpilka is tough and has heart so he'll last a while and might have moments. Ultimately, Wilder is too big, too much more athletic, and hits too hard. He gets Szpilka out of there to retain.
Report Card and Staff Picks 2016: 0-0
Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com
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