Bryant Jennings had more success tonight against Wladimir Klitschko than just about anyone has in the last decade, but the previously undefeated American still came up short, as the champ made his 18th consecutive successful title defense tonight at Madison Square Garden.
Wladimir Klitschko beats Bryant Jennings: American challenger game, but champ retains
Wladimir Klitschko got more of a challenge than many expected, but still got the better of a determined Bryant Jennings.
Al Bello/Getty Images
Klitschko (64-3, 53 KO) won on scores of 116-111, 116-111, and 118-109, with SB Nation scoring it 116-111 for Klitschko, as well. But it was not an easy night for the Ukrainian superstar, who admitted as much after the fight, giving Jennings (19-1, 10 KO) plenty of credit.
“He had a great desire to win and be the champion. He was even talking in the rounds and trying to make it like Ali-Frazier. He gave me a great challenge,” Klitschko told HBO’s Max Kellerman after the fight.
There was also speculation during the bout that Klitschko, whose right hand didn’t come into play a lot, might have been hurt. Wladimir said it was not. “My right hand is OK, Bryant just didn’t give me a chance to throw the right hand like I wanted.”
Klitschko looked comfortable and confident early on in the fight, but Jennings used some good head movement and some solid hustle to keep the fight competitive, instead of fading against Klitschko’s jab and getting frustrated, as most opponents have in recent years, if not flat knocked out.
Jennings was able to batter Klitschko effectively to the body, reddening up Wladimir’s right side, and also landed some clean shots to the head. But Wladimir certainly looked like the bigger puncher, and by the later rounds of the fight, his right hand did come into play with some monstrous shots landing. Jennings, to his credit, took those shots well, and they were punches that have stopped a lot of contenders.
Klitschko’s usual clinching was also lessened in this fight, as referee Michael Griffin did crack down more than most officials have over the years. He even deducted a point from Klitschko’s score in the 10th round, though that did lead to Wladimir dominating the final two rounds and cementing the victory.
Jennings said he accepted the defeat, but didn’t agree with the scores. “I felt it could have gone either way,” Jennings told Kellerman. “I felt it should have been a little closer. That wide margin, I don’t agree with that.”
We’ll have more on what’s next for both Klitschko and Jennings shortly, as the champ likely moves back into making mandatory defenses of his three title belts, while Jennings’ stock certainly rises with his first defeat.
See More:
