Bryant Jennings’ next fight: With stock rising, doors are open following Klitschko fight

Bryant Jennings didn’t get the win he was after on Saturday night, but a fairly competitive loss to world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko is nothing to be ashamed of and the 30-year-old American fighter’s stock probably is on the rise after his effort.

Jennings (19-1, 10 KO) has a lot of potential directions to go right now and while it’s hard to predict with any certainty what could be next for the Philadelphia native, let’s discuss some interesting (in various ways) potential options for him.

Deontay Wilder

Wilder (33-0, 32 KO) holds the WBC heavyweight title, the lone major title in the division not in Klitschko’s possession. While it’s not common for fighters to come off of losses and get a world title shot in their next fight, it’s certainly not unheard of either. Most recently, Sakio Bika got a shot at light heavyweight champ Adonis Stevenson on April 4, following a draw and a loss in a pair of super middleweight title fights against Anthony Dirrell in 2013 and 2014.

Would Wilder-Jennings be received well? I think so. It’s an all-American heavyweight title fight between a couple of guys who are in the mix at the level below Klitschko. Jennings proved a lot against a fighter much more experienced and much more savvy than Wilder, and also showed he can get some things done against a bigger opponent. Wilder, at 6’7, is taller than Klitschko but not as evenly built.

This is probably not likely, but it would be a chance for Jennings to go right back out, win a title, and say you’re the second-best heavyweight in the world, moving toward a rematch with Wladimir, who does want the WBC belt at some point.

Ruslan Chagaev, Alexander Povetkin, and Kubrat Pulev

All three of these fighters are previous Klitschko victims, none of them doing as well with Klitschko as Jennings did. Povetkin is still considered by most to be the No. 2 heavyweight in the world, titles aside. Pulev came out swinging last year against Klitschko, only to get knocked out. Both have strong amateur pedigrees and are well-schooled boxer-punchers.

Chagaev holds the WBA’s “world” title, a paper version of the “super” title the sanctioning body also has, which is held by Klitschko. What makes these three fights seem unlikely comes down to location. Jennings has done well for himself fighting at home in the United States, and Chagaev, Povetkin, and Pulev fight exclusively overseas these days, mostly in Russia and Germany. It’s possible Jennings and his team won’t see this as a time to take the risk on a road fight, and that none of these fighters see going to the U.S. to face Jennings as worth the trouble, either.

Antonio Tarver

At 46, former light heavyweight champion Tarver, the man who ended the invincibility illusion of the great Roy Jones Jr. many years ago, is still in the game. And he’s a heavyweight now. And in his last fight, he dominated and knocked out Johnathon Banks, the active fighter who also serves now as Klitschko’s head trainer.

Tarver is very vocal about wanting a fight with Klitschko. But, he recently told Bad Left Hook he understands he might need to prove again that he’s still a legit fighter and a serious player in the division. He said he’d be happy to take a fight with a top contender to get what he ultimately desires.

Tarver is a smart, crafty veteran, small for the division, but a guy who knows how to box. He also hasn’t had a lot of fights over his career, or taken much punishment, so his age might not be the factor it would appear on paper. Jennings is certainly established as a legitimate top fighter in the division now, and Tarver could look to make a real splash against someone whose name is hot at the moment.

The Field: Part 1

There are plenty of other names out there. Shannon Briggs wants a big fight, and though he’s been barking at Klitschko and Wilder, Jennings might fit in, though most feel Briggs is simply looking for a big payday, which a fight with Jennings might not bring.

Veterans like Tony Thompson, Steve Cunningham, and Malik Scott are still out there, fighters Jennings would be favored to beat, but guys who rarely go easy. Another American veteran, Eddie Chambers, is a potentially interesting matchup between Philadelphia natives.

Denis Boytsov, who once was mandatory challenger to Klitschko before losing what was supposed to be a tune-up fight, could also be a potentially interesting opponent, as he looks to get back on track.

The Field: Part 2

There’s also the distinct possibility that Jennings and his team will look for a “get-well” fight, a tune-up opponent meant to get Jennings back to his winning ways in a safe, confidence-boosting fight. Jennings probably has plenty of confidence after the way he fought on Saturday, but this is a pretty standard practice in boxing.

Some names in this boat might be Manuel Charr, Derric Rossy, Joe Hanks, or Alexander Ustinov, or one of the other dozens of fighters out there around this level.

Jennings has a unique opportunity here to have gained some fans and take advantage of good press, even in defeat. Klitschko’s reign is not going to last forever, even if that means he retires sooner than later, and as the champ himself said, Jennings looks like someone who’s going to be around for the long haul as a top fighter in the division. Who knows what’s next, but Bryant Jennings has his name out there now.