WBC heavyweight champ Wilder driven to ‘claim it all’

As good as 2015 was to Deontay Wilder, he hopes to make 2016 even better.

The World Boxing Council world heavyweight champion plans to add more belts to his resume after beating Bermane Stiverne for the title a year ago. Wilder (35-0, 34 knockouts) makes the third defense of his WBC belt Saturday against Artur Szpilka at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on a Showtime-televised card.

"There's a lot going on in the heavyweight division, and the division is definitely alive," Wilder said Wednesday. "I'm looking to claim it all."

Wilder has made two successful title defenses, having stopped Eric Molina in June and Johann Duhaupas in September. Both fights came in Wilder's home state of Alabama in Birmingham. Now, he faces a southpaw in Szpilka (20-1, 15 KOs).

"Southpaws are fun people to fight," Wilder said. "I'm looking forward to making a statement on Szpilka's face."

A major part of Wilder's plans for 2016 was a unification fight with Wladimir Klitschko. But when Klitschko lost his World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization titles to Tyson Fury on Nov. 28, Wilder's plan was scuttled.

"I was very disappointed that Klitschko didn't show up and do the things that we expected of him and what he was capable of doing," said Wilder, who had sparred with Klitschko in the past. "I think Father Time has knocked on his door, and he don't want to let him in yet. But I think it's knocking on his door, and that fight proved it."

Wilder said he is not overlooking Szpilka in their 12-round title bout.

"Everything I've said, I've backed up. That's why I'm still the champ," Wilder said. "That's why I'm a winner. I understand my abilities and skills inside that ring."

JESSIE MAGDALENO RETURNS — Undefeated Las Vegas super bantamweight Jessie Magdaleno is also looking for big things in 2016, and he gets an early start to his year when he faces Edward Mansito (13-3-2, seven KOs) on Feb. 20 in a 10-round bout at Phoenix's Celebrity Theater.

Magdaleno (22-0, 16 KOs) is coming off a first-round knockout of Vergel Nebran on Oct. 17 in Phoenix. There is talk that if Magdaleno stays undefeated, he might land a fight this year against WBO super bantamweight champ Nonito Donaire, who won the belt last month.

TOP RANK SUIT — A federal judge denied Al Haymon's motion to dismiss Top Rank's $100 million lawsuit against Premier Boxing Champions.

The suit, filed July 1, claims PBC violated antitrust laws as well as the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act. By not dismissing the suit, the case will proceed to discovery and potentially to a jury trial.

Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said he was pleased with the decision but would not comment further on the pending litigation. Golden Boy Promotions has a similar suit against Haymon, seeking $300 million in damages.

CANELO IN VEGAS? — Golden Boy has requested the date of May 7 at the MGM Grand Garden for what is believed to be Canelo Alvarez's next fight. Alvarez defeated Miguel Cotto on Nov. 21 at Mandalay Bay to win the WBC middleweight title.

What's interesting is that the request is for the Grand Garden, not T-Mobile Arena, the 20,000-seat venue that opens April 6. Golden Boy could request a change of venue at Tuesday's Nevada Athletic Commission meeting.

The NAC is expected to approve that date, as well as Top Rank's April 9 request for Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley Jr. III at the Grand Garden and PBC's request for March 5 at the MGM Grand for the welterweight title fight between WBA champion Keith Thurman and former IBF world champ Shawn Porter.

— Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.