Szpilka was born in Wieliczka, Poland in 1989.[2] He has said he was a football hooligan before a local boxing coach suggested he should take up boxing instead. As an amateur, Szpilka won the Polish national heavyweight title and reached the quarterfinals of the Junior world championships before turning professional in 2008.[3] In October 2009 when he was 20 years old, he was arrested for being involved in a brawl between rival football fans and spent 18 months in prison.[4]
Professional career
On 30 June 2012, Szpilka fought Jameel McCline in Lodz, Poland, which he won by unanimous decision (UD). Szpilka's winning secured the fight with Mike Mollo in 2013, the winning by knock out resulted in consequent revenge. Both bouts Szpilka won by an early knock out, despite that in bout he was knocked down and counted. The first fight was over in the sixth round, the second in the fifth, Mollo became grounded unable to rise.
On 25 January 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 25 January 2014 in Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Szpilka lost the fight by referee stoppage in the final round.[5] Later that year, on 8 November 2014, Szpilka scored his most significant win following a ten-round UD over former light-heavyweight and cruiserweight world champion Tomasz Adamek.[6]
On 16 January 2016 he fought for the WBC heavyweight title against defending champion Deontay Wilder. Szpilka proved an awkward opponent for Wilder with his elusive style, making the champion miss on many occasions. Unfortunately for Szpilka, while advancing closer to Wilder in round nine, he was caught by a hard right hook on the chin which knocked him out cold. He remained on the canvas for several minutes and needed to be stretchered out of the ring.[7]
About a year and a half after the Wilder fight, Szpilka made his comeback in New York against compatriot Adam Kownacki. Kownacki was in control for most of the fight, dropping Szpilka and subsequently getting a TKO victory in the fourth round.[8] His next fight was against American Dominick Guinn, whom he defeated by Unanimous Decision. After that, Szpilka had another all-Polish main event, this time against former heavyweight world title challenger Mariusz Wach. Szpilka was visibly smaller and was hit flush several times, and at times the fight seemed like it was going to be stopped. However, in the end he succeeded in edging out Wach by a tiny margin and won by split decision.[9]
On 20 July 2019, Szpilka fought former world title challenger Derek Chisora. In what was expected to be an action-packed and entertaining fight, Chisora managed to make easy work out of the Pole and knocked him out in the second round. In 2020 Szpilka moved down to cruiserweight and won his first fight against Serhiy Radchenko by way of majority decision.[10]
Mixed martial arts career
In 2022, it was announced that Szpilka would make his mixed martial arts debut against his former opponent in boxing, Serhiy Radchenko at KSW 71: Ziółkowski vs. Rajewski on 18 June 2022.[11] He won the bout via second-round technical knockout.[12]
In the sophomore bout in the sport, Szpilka faced Denis Załęcki at High League 4 on 17 September 2022. He won the bout via first round technical knockout after Załęcki suffered a knee injury.[13]
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