Rising Star Szpilka Confident He Will Beat McCline, Already Targeting Adamek

By Scoop Malinowski

One of the most colorful and talented young heavyweight boxers in the world today, Artur Szpilka, takes a major step up in class on Saturday night in Poland, when he will take on former world title challenger Jameel McCline in Lodz, Poland.

Szpilka (11-0 with 9 KO’s) respects the much bigger and experienced McCline but is sure of victory. “It’s the most difficult opponent of my pro career but I will win this fight,” Szpilka told Polish journalist Witold Szmagaj. “I hope the world hears about my win against McCline, it’s very important for me…McCline has a big head, that’s gonna be a nice target for me.”

McCline (42-11-3, 24 KO’s), now 42, and about four inches taller than the 6-2 Szpilka, has competed against some of the best heavyweight talent in this era – Wladimir Klitschko, Nicolai Valuev, Chris Byrd, Sam Peter, Calvin Brock, John Ruiz, Lance Whitaker, Shannon Briggs, Michael Grant – while Szpilka’s most notable opponent was Owen Beck. Szpilka’s last two fights were against unheralded Terrence Marbra and Gonzalo Omar Basile, both stoppage wins.

McCline’s words about boxing Szpilka (to Ring Polska): “He’s young, he’s strong, he’s aggressive, he’s a very important fighter here in Poland and an up and coming guy. I’m in really good shape, of course, I have to be.”

“The key to victory is more pressure. I’m going to be fighting stepping in though everyone thinks I will fight the other way. It’s going to be all about pressure.”

“They brought me in as a stepping stone but I assure you and the rest of the world I am not and won’t be a stepping stone.”

23-year-old Szpilka, who has spent time in jail (soccer brawling), engaged in a war of words with Polish legend Andrew Golota, has also provoked trouble with two-time world champion Tomasz Adamek. Szpilka is eager to fight Adamek in the very near future. “Adamek was bad against Chambers, Roger Bloodworth is a bad trainer, (former Adamek trainer Andrzej) Gmitruk was better. Adamek fights are boring. I want the fight with Adamek so much. That fight can be possible in one or two years.”

Adamek responded to his future rival with simple words: “Less talk, more train Artur.”

Szpilka vs. McCline is set for 12 rounds and will be contested for Szpilka’s WBC Baltic Silver Heavyweight title.