On Saturday, January 16 at The Barclays Center, WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay Wilder will make the third defense of his title against Polish bruiser Artur Szpilka while unbeaten heavyweights Charles Martin and Vyacheslav Glazkov battle for the vacant IBF Heavyweight World Championship, the first two heavyweight world title fights in Brooklyn in 115 years. Showtime held a workout for the press at the world famous Gleason’s Gym that featured the main event fighters along with a few folks from the undercard to help promote the event.
Deontay Wilder (35-0, 34 KO’s, video of him above) is ready to make history and was honored to be part of this historic moment for Brooklyn boxing. “This is big for me,” Wilder explained, “Being in New York and making history, that’s a dream come true. I’ve been looking to come to Brooklyn for a long time to display my talent. Barclays Center needs a face and I’m looking to make it a home away from home.” “2016 is going to be a huge year for Deontay Wilder. The fans are going to be very excited and impressed with what I do this year. I’m not playing around. My goal is to be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and whoever has those belts is going to have to deal with me… We’re on a mission. Everything that has happened has been planned. Everything seems to happen at the right time in my career and my life. I was meant to do this. Boxing was my calling in life.”
Szpilka looked huge and fierce, showing off his tremendous power (as well as lung capacity for yelling at the audience). At times playful with the photographers on the apron, Artur displayed serious power as well as a desire to wear the belt around his waist. “I want to be the first Polish heavyweight champion of the world. I’m ready. This is important for Poland and my Polish fans… I can’t wait. This is so important because the Polish people have supported me so well. I know I will be a hero after the fight. I know it and I believe it. Only four days.”
Szpilka also showed off an unusual toy in his training camp, a small ball attached with a string to his head, which is mesmerizing to see done in person. (Check it out at around 6:33, preceded by him yelling more). “Wilder is very tough. He’s tall and strong. This is boxing. He’s human. I know I can beat him. He makes mistakes and I know what I have to do. I know him. I’ve studied him and I see what he does badly.”
“I’m not one to talk except when the media brings it out of me, but I definitely prefer to let my hands do the talking.” Charles Martin said in regards to his fight against Vyacheslav Glazkov for the vacant IBF Heavyweight World Championship. “Getting to this point is very exciting but it will feel even sweeter when I walk out of that ring with the belt on Saturday. Heavyweight boxing is back.” “I’m going to go out there on my A-game. I’m going to box and I’m going to show off my power for everyone.”
When he was not doing handstands (see 10:36), Glazkov hammered the focus mitts with his opponent watching. An odd thing to see at a press workout, but Martin showed true respect to his opponent (who did not mind his presence during his time in the ring), and gave him a fist bump after.
This temporary friendship will certainly end this weekend, with Glazkov interested in winning this bout and then working to unify all the titles. “I’m only going to pay attention to what’s going on in the ring. If I relax I will be successful,” Glazkov explained. “My opponent has some skills but I have faced the better opposition. Power alone does not win a fight. I was always more successful fighting the bigger guys, so I am not worried about his size.”
Amanda Serrano (26-1-1, 19 KO’s) looked sharp as she gets ready to meet Erika Kalderas (11-1, 4 KOs) for the vacant WBO Female Featherweight World Title. “I don’t care who I’m fighting. I want that belt. No one is going to take it away from me. I’m promising a night of fireworks.” “I’ll fight anybody. I’m a fighter at heart. I want all the world titles. I want to be an undisputed champion. Whoever they put in front me, I’m taking down.
“I have big goals in this sport and I know that every single fight is very important to do your best,” Julian Sosa said, who hit mitts as well as paddles with deadly accuracy. “I’ve trained very hard to get into this position and I’m not going to let it slip by me.” “No matter who is put in front of me, I want to excite the fans. I’m going to come forward and get the knockout.”
Welterweight Ivan Golub (9-0 with 7 KO’s) looked sharp as always while working the mitts, and is expecting to go to war this weekend with Juan Rodriguez (13-3, 5 KO’s). “I think I’m going to have to box this guy. Everyone wants to win by knockout and if all goes to plan, that’s what we’ll see.” This event will air live on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Saturday, January 16.