When he enters the ring next Friday, August 14, Polish heavyweight hero Artur Szpilka says he is eager to show off the improvements he has made working with trainer Ronnie Shields.
Szpilka (19-1, 14 KO’s) will face Cuba’s Yasmany Consuegra (17-1, 14 KO’s) in the chief supporting bout of the Premier Boxing Champions on Spike doubleheader featuring Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver (31-6, 22 KO’s) facing Philadelphia’s Steve “USS” Cunningham (28-7, 13 KO’s) and cruiserweight champion Marco “Captain” Huck (38-2-1, 26 KO’s) defending his title against Szpilka’s countryman Krzysztof Glowacki (24-0, 15 KO’s) at the Prudential Center, in Newark, New Jersey.
Tickets for the event, promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Warriors Boxing and Huck Sports Promotion, are priced at $150, $100, $70 and $45, not including applicable service charges and are on sale now via Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets may also be purchased at Prudential Center’s box office. Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Undercard action begins at 6:00 p.m. ET, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Going into his third fight with the well-respected Shields, Szpilka says he’s a different fighter.
“Ronnie Shields is the best coach. Every time I go to the gym, he teaches me something new. I come to training excited because my coach believes in me that I will be champ. We have a great time in the gym, and everything is going great.”
The southpaw Szpilka says he respects his opponent, Consuegra but has come too far to lose working with Shields.
“He’s a good fighter. He has a good right hand, and he’s a good mover. I feel it will be a good fight, but I know what I have to do to win.”
Stacked with Polish boxing talent, in addition to Glowacki vs. Huck and Szpilka vs. Consuegra, the Premier Boxing Champions on Spike event will also include middleweight Maciej Sulecki (20-0, 5 KO’s) and world-ranked featherweight Kamil “Little Tyson” Laszczyk (20-0, 8 KO’s).
“I am so excited to be arriving in Newark tomorrow (Sunday). I look forward to showing off my new skills and to seeing my friends win their fights,” continued Szpilka.
“Next Friday I will be one step closer to my dreams of winning a championship. I look forward to it and to continuing my work with Ronnie Shields. He is making me into a champion.”
