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WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO DEFEATS BRYANT JENNINGS VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION

By Scott Smith | April 26, 2015
WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO DEFEATS BRYANT JENNINGS VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION

Moments ago at the Madison Square Garden in New York, WBA, IBF, & WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko made a successful return to the United States, scoring a unanimous decision against previously unbeaten Bryant Jennings. Klitschko, who had not fought on US soil since 2008, looked impressive against a courageous Jennings, who came with a game plan, but was unable to succeed in nullifying the Klitschko jab, which was the defining factor throughout the fight. Both men had success, but neither were in trouble at any time. It was a calculated approach from both fighters, but the undisputed king of the division showed exactly why he has reigned supreme for so long. Using great variety in his approach, Klitschko showed superb timing, good footwork, and was boxing well off the back foot when he needed to.

It was evident from the opening round what each man's game plan was. Jennings used a body attack strategy to set up the overhand shots upstairs. Klitschko, on the other hand, worked patiently at distance behind his left jab. It was a slow start with the pace being dictated by Klitschko's jab, a punch that he used consistently throughout the fight as Jennings seemed to nullify the effect of his right hand pretty well. In the middle rounds, Jennings landed a beautiful right hand against the ropes, followed by two left hands and an uppercut that seemed to get the attention of the champion, but Klitschko remained calm and composed with his approach, though he did show some discomfort when Jennings worked his way inside and landed body shots. Klitschko was warned on three separate occasions by the referee, the final one being a stern one in round 9, for holding. Jennings was able to land a good, strong right hand, and the champion was cut under his left eye in the same round, but he came back well with his own strong right hand; his first significant right hand of the fight.

Klitschko was finally deducted a point for holding in round 10, and was then caught by an uppercut on the inside, but he battled back with a decent combination and an uppercut against the ropes. Jennings attacked the body well again towards the end of the round. To his credit, Klitschko was more active and showed good footwork after the point deduction, knowing he could not rely on holding. Round 12 was explosive from the start as Jennings went for the knockout, diving in to force the pace while Klitschko was bouncing away on his back foot, circling and landing a nice three-punch combination followed by a strong straight right hand. Jennings was wobbled in the last 10 seconds of the fight with a strong right hand.

It was a courageous performance from Jennings against a very calculated Klitschko, who showed his versatility as a fighter and used excellent timing and precision to dictate the tempo for the vast majority of the fight. Jennings, who had a longer reach, could have worked his jab a bit more, but chose to abandon it from the first bell. Klitschko was efficient, but in his US return, will this performance be enough to silence his doubters?

Official judges scorecards: 116-111, 116-111, 118-109

THE WINNER BY UNANIMOUS DECISION...WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO

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