WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder will face off with Poland’s Artur Szpilka on Jan. 16 (Photo: Naoki Fukuda)

By Chris Robinson

WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder finally has a dance partner for his Jan. 16 return date.

The unbeaten Alabama native will make the third defense of his belt when he meets Poland’s Artur Szpilka inside of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York in a SHOWTIME-televised thriller.

Wilder (35-0, 34 KO’s) had been in search of an opponent and with Szpilka (20-1, 15 KO’s) finally being selected, he can finally focus on the matchup.

“I’m excited about coming to New York City,” Wilder said. “I’m excited about displaying my talents and I’m excited about fighting at Barclays Center. I want to thank my opponent Artur Szpilka for accepting this opportunity that I’m giving him. I wish him luck; he’s going to need it. I look forward to winning over the Polish fans after I beat him.

“I know he’s a southpaw and he tends to give up when things get tough in the ring, going off the fight he had with Bryant Jennings,” Wilder added. “He doesn’t have heart when it gets tough. I look forward to giving the fans plenty of action and excitement on Jan. 16.”

Szpilka was stopped in the 10th round against Jennings in January of 2014 and is ready for a shot at redemption.

“It feels amazing to get the opportunity to fight Deontay for his heavyweight world title,” said Szpilka. “I can’t wait to be the first ever Polish heavyweight to win a world title. I’ve dreamed about this many times, and now my time has come. I’ll be ready to put on a show for my fans and take his belt from him on Jan. 16.”

Chris Robinson can be reached at CRobinson@hustleboss.com