CITY SCUFFLE: Wilder and Szpilka Beef

Nothing like a little scuffle before fight night to get eyes trained on a forthcoming prizefight.

Deontay Wilder, a brash Alabaman prone to yelling “Boooooomb Squadddd” nearly anywhere and everywhere, save church and the airport, was too vocal for his own good, in the mind of Artur Szpilka, a convicted ex soccer hooligan–as a 19 year old he did 18 months time–who took umbrage during a Wednesday photo op.

Harsh words and nearly blows were exchanged, at the new World Trade Center in downtown Manhattan.

Seasoned pros, and both men are, know it isn’t wise to start swinging before the official date, because who wants to imperil a payday. But Szpilka got irritated at the Bama man’s yapping and let him know it. He also slipped into street-fighter mode with a lil head butt attempt on Wilder.

On Saturday, the deal gets real at Barclays Center, on a Lou Dibella card, portions of which run on Showtime.

Przemek Garczarczyk, a writer covering boxing for Polish media in US for last 25 years, was there for the tiff. What started it? “Just Artur being Artur,” he told me. “With Wilder screaming throughout a Szpilka interview with Polish TV, Szpilka decided to say something and when they got close, he will never back down! He told me after, he will never take shit from anybody!”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.comor by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.