Wednesday 9 December 2015 12:08, UK
Deontay Wilder will defend his WBC world heavyweight title against Poland's Artur Szpilka on January 16.
The unbeaten American (35-0-KO34) will travel from his home state of Alabama to Brooklyn, New York to make the third defence of the crown he won by outpointing Bermane Stiverne in January.
Szpilka (20-1-KO15) is a 26-year-old southpaw from Wieliczka, just outside Krakow, who has fought half of his professional fights in the United States.
Whatever you want to say about Szpilka, the guy is rugged and a brawler. He won't stink the joint out. He'll make a good fight.
Promoter Lou DiBella told ESPN.com: "You have one of the biggest Polish populations around the Barclays Center and in the New York/New Jersey area, and whatever you want to say about Szpilka, the guy is rugged and a brawler.
"He won't stink the joint out. He'll make a good fight."
Szpilka's sole defeat in the paid ranks came in January 2014 when he was stopped in the final round by Bryant Jennings, and he responded by scoring a unanimous decision over fellow Pole and former world title challenger Tomasz Adamek in his next bout.
A trio of stoppage victories followed as the improving Szpilka halted Ty Cobb, Manuel Quezada and Yasmany Consuegra on American soil.
Wilder's first two defences took place in Alabama - he stopped compatriot Eric Molina in the the ninth round in June and was most recently in action in September, when he halted France's Johann Duhaupas in the 11th.
Wilder and fellow world champion Tyson Fury have been trading challenges on social media since Fury seized Wladimir Klitschko's WBA, WBO and IBF titles, and a unification bout in 2016 remains a possibility.
