By Vadim Pushkin

Although Arthur Szpilka (20-2, 15 KOs) lost by vicious knockout to WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (36-0, 35 KOs) on Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the Polish couldn't expected Wilder to be a much bigger puncher based on his feared reputation.

Szpilka took several of Wilder's right hands during the fight and gave the champion a lot of trouble in the first half of the contest. During the ninth round, Szpilka was hit with an overhand right that he never saw coming, and it put him down and out.

Szpilka was placed on a stretcher and taken to a local hospital for observation. The boxer, trained by veteran coach Ronnie Shields, was down on the cards at the time of the stoppage. The scores were 78-74 twice and 77-75 on the third.

"I wanted to get up. [I didn't want to stay down that long], but the official told me to stay down. And I know how it might sound, but Wilder does not hit that hard. I took a few punches, but I was expecting some tremendous force in his hands. He landed a few times, but something was missing," he told reporters in Poland.

Prior to winning his world title, Wilder's first 32 opponents were knocked out in four rounds or less. As the competition has increased, the fights have been getting longer. Bermane Stiverne lasted the full twelve round distance, Eric Molina went nine rounds, Johann Duhaupas fought until the eleventh, and now Szpilka went nine.

Wilder must now face WBC mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin.