Wilder KOs Szpilka, keeps WBC heavyweight crown

NEW YORK – Deontay Wilder knocked out one heavyweight and was instantly primed to go right to work on Tyson Fury.

Wilder retained his WBC heavyweight championship with a devastating knockout of Artur Szpilka in the ninth round Saturday night at the Barclays Center.

Wilder (36-0) left Szpilka out cold and flat on his back with a powerful right hand to the head. Szpilka (20-2) was out for several minutes as medics were called to the ring. He eventually slumped against the turnbuckles as doctors tended to him.

With former heavyweight champions Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis sitting ringside, Wilder recorded his 35th KO and silenced a Polish-flavored crowd that went wild for Szpilka.

“I’m surprised it took that long, but we had 12 rounds and they all can’t be pretty,” Wilder said.

Fury, the WBO and IBO heavyweight champ, also sat ringside until the fight was over – jumping in the ring and engaging in a trash talking, head-to-head showdown that electrified the crowd.

The IBF stripped Fury of another one of his championship belts when he agreed to an immediate rematch against Wladimir Klitschko. Fury slammed down his jacket and stormed around the ring, furiously issuing Wilder a challenge to unify the belts.

“Any time! Any place! Anywhere!” Fury said.

Wilder, his green title belt slung over his shoulder, was ready for another fight.

“Like I did Klitschko, I’ll beat you, ya bum, You’re a bum,” the showman Fury said.