Polish Ex Con Szpilka To Fight on Wach-McBride Undercard

NORTH BERGEN (July 18, 2011) – Undefeated Polish bad boy Artur Szpilka and trainer Fiodor Lapin arrived Monday afternoon from Poland at JFK International Airport to finish up training for his July 29 match on the Mariusz Wach-Kevin McBride undercard at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.,

The 22-year-old southpaw Szpilka (6-0, 4 KO) of North Bergen, NJ by way of Wieliczka, Poland will face David Williams (6-4-1, 2 KO) of Philadelphia, PA in a four-round heavyweight matchup on “Heat Wave,” which is presented by Classic Entertainment and Sports and Global Boxing. Szpilka is co-promoted by Global Boxing and 12 Round Knockout Promotions.

Szpilka will be making his first appearance in an American boxing since July of 2009. Szpilka's career was interrupted in October of that year when he was arrested at the weigh-in for his match on the undercard of the battle between his countrymen Tomasz Adamek and Andrew Golota in ?ód?, Poland.

Szpilka was charged for his role in a brawl between soccer hooligans supporting his team Wisla Krakow and bitter rivals Cracovia and sentenced to 18 months in jail.

“During that time, I realized just what I had lost and began to appreciate boxing more. I kept fit by doing pull-ups, pushups and lifting weights in prison, which helped me build up my upper body strength and punching power. Now I'm hungrier than ever before.”

That power was on display when he made his ring return less than a month ago in Poland. Facing Ramiz Hadziaganovic – who entered with an 8-0 (7 KO)  record – Szpilka needed just :33 seconds to score the dramatic one-punch knockout in front of a sold-out crowd.

The Polish public enemy entered the ring wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and was escorted by models dressed as police officers in an homage to his life-changing experience. Expect Szpilka to be dressed similarly on July 29.

“I'm dedicating to this fight to all the people who I was locked up with in Poland. This fight is for them.”

There will be a press conference this Thursday, July 21 at 1 P.M. at Global Boxing Gym in North Bergen to formally announce the card. Wach, McBride and Szpilka will all be in attendance.

For more information on Szpilka and “Heat Wave,” visit www.globalboxing.com.

Tickets for “Heat Wave,” priced at $40, $65 and $105, can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254 or calling Ticketmaster at 1.800.745.3000. Fans can also purchase tickets online at www.cesboxing.com, www.ticketmaster.com, or at the Mohegan Sun Box Office. For more information on “Heat Wave,” visit www.cesboxing.com or www.mohegansun.com.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 7:30 p.m.