Wladimir Klitschko Gets Toughest Test in a Decade Against Bryant Jennings
By Travis Fleming
Last night, live from Madison Square Garden, WBA, WBO, IBF and RING Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko, 64-3 53 KO’s, got more than he bargained for in an unexpectedly competitive title defense against undefeated American challenger Bryant Jennings, 19-1 10 KO’s. Klitschko was making his return to the USA for the first time in eight years.
It was an electric atmosphere in the boxing mecca of Madison Square Garden, New York. Fans were excited to have a heavyweight championship fight back in the arena that has produced some of the most classic heavyweight battles of all time. The fight was aired on HBO, which stopped airing Klitschko’s title defenses for a long time, and it was great to see the heavyweight champion back as the feature attraction on boxing’s best broadcasting platform. With premium cable rival Showtime gaining ground, and the return of boxing to major network TV this year, HBO proved it is still the king of boxing production. The production and pre-fight hype were of the highest quality, and the announcing team of Jim Lampley, Roy Jones, JR., and Max Kellerman are still the best in the sport. There’s something about HBO’s broadcasts that give an air of classiness and create an atmosphere of anticipation that is unrivaled by all of its competitors.
Most were predicting a cakewalk, and middle rounds knockout win for Klitschko over his inexperienced challenger, but by round three it was evident that Wlad would need to dig deeper than he’s had to in over a decade. Jennings was very mobile and employed a consistent body attack. He didn’t land many clean head shots, but he made Klitschko work and have to show a bit of grit instead of just cruising to an easy victory against an intimidated foe, which has become the norm. Most impressive was Jennings’ unbelievable punch resistance, he regularly took Wlad’s harpoon 1-2’s, that normally send opponents crashing to the canvass, without so much as flinching and he responded with bulling into the champ with body shots that pushed Klitschko into the ropes. In the end, Klitschko had to go through some adversity for once to gut out a competitive decision win. I gave Jennings four rounds, which is three more than I have given any other Klitschko opponent in a very long time.
Jennings proved he was deserving of this title shot and that he is certainly among the best big men in the sport. He deserves all the credit in the world for giving Klitschko the hardest fight he’s had since his KO loss to Lamon Brewster over eleven years ago. Jennings showed excellent footwork, resilience, and an iron chin. He’s young, hungry, and will definitely be back in the title picture before too long. After the fight, Jennings complained that everytime he got inside and started to work, Klitschko would illegally hold him which prevented him from getting any momentum going. This is a common complaint of Klitschko foes, and critics, and referee Michael Griffin took notice with multiple warnings, and finally a point deduction from Wlad in round ten. If Griffin took a point from Wlad earlier in this fight, it may have turned out quite different. Hopefully future Klitschko referees will take note and no longer allow Wlad to excessively illegally clinch like he did against Alexander Povetkin and many more, to prevent opponents from landing blows on the inside. It would be nice if Klitschko is finally forced to fight his way out of an opponent’s range.
Last night, I saw a 39 year old Klitschko that finally showed a bit of aging. He had trouble with the mobility and speed of Jennings, and four years ago he had an easier time with an even quicker, and more mobile, opponent, who happens to be a better fighter, in an undefeated champion version of David Haye. It was unusual seeing Klitshcko get bullied into the ropes by the smaller Jennings, a lot of heavyweights watching last night must be feeling more confident in their chances against the longtime champion. Klitschko notched up title defense number 18, which put him one away from tying Larry Holmes for second most title defenses ever in an incredibly dominant career. Before this fight, most fans predicted Klitschko to surpass Holmes’ mark but with Tyson Fury, 24-0 18 KO’s, and Deontay Wilder, 33-0 32 KO’s, looking like his next two bouts, Wlad might have to settle for third as far as all time heavyweight title defenses. He has to face mandatory challenger Tyson Fury next and based on the form Wlad showed last night, the hungry, audacious, 6’9, tough as nails Fury will be no easy task. Fury is bigger than Wlad and he will bring the fight to him. I expect Klitschko to win a hard fought competitive fight against the often sloppy Tyson Fury, although I wouldn’t be shocked by a Fury upset either.
After Fury, he runs into trouble for attempted defense number 20. Wlad has always wanted all four major heavyweight titles, right now he has three and just needs the WBC title to complete his collection. In order to achieve that dream, if he beats Fury, he will set up the biggest heavyweight fight in over a decade against power punching, undefeated WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder for all the marbles at heavyweight. Before last night, I gave Wilder only a punchers chance against Wlad, after last night, I feel Klitschko is there for the taking and the speed, volume, grit and power of Wilder will be too much for the aging champion. Deontay Wilder will stop this version of Klitschko and begin a new era of competitiveness in boxing’s glamour division.
There is a changing of the guard happening right now at heavyweight, and finally we are in for some exciting times and new faces. The division now has some legitimate challengers, and an aging Wladimir Klitschko will have trouble holding on for too much longer. With exciting young challengers like Wilder, Fury, Jennings, Anthony Joshua and more, and the return of David Haye and Alexander Povetkin, we are in for the type of heavyweight era we haven’t seen since the 90’s. Strap in and enjoy the ride.
