By David Martinez / dmboxing.com

Undefeated WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (36-0 / 35 by KO) scored a devastating knockout in round nine over Artur Szpilka (20-1 / 15 by KO) on Saturday at the Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, televised on Showtime.

Wilder delivered a right hand that sent the game challenger Szpilka down and out cold at 2 minutes, 24 seconds of the ninth round.  All three judges had Wilder ahead entering the round. Scores were 78-74, 78-74, 77-75 … my scorecard was a bit wider 79-73.

It was Wilder’s third defense of his title, with his next fight is scheduled later this year against #1 mandatory WBC contender Alexander Povetkin. I personally would love to see him fight undefeated WBA/WBO champion Tyson Fury, but Fury first has a scheduled rematch with Wladimir Klitschko later this year.

In the co-feature, unbeaten Prince Charles Martin (23-0-1 / 21 by KO) captured the vacant IBF heavyweight title with a third round stoppage over Vyacheslav Glazkov (21-1-1 / 13 by KO) when Glazkov, after throwing a punch accidently slipped to the canvas due to fighting a south paw because their feet momentarily got tangled. Though he appeared to injure his ankle, he actually twisted his right knee going down. Glazkov rose quickly and limped around before referee Earl Brown asked him if he could continue. When he could not, the fight was stopped at the 1:50 mark of the round.

It was learned later that Glazkov tore the ACL in his right knee, a very unfortunate occurrence in the fight. We all wish him a speedy recovery and return to the ring.