Moments ago at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York, interim WBA heavyweight champion Luis Ortiz dropped bombs on contender Bryant Jennings, breaking him down with heavy shots before stopping him in the 7th round. Jennings was game and willing to exchange on the inside from the start, but it didn't take long for Ortiz to remind him who the bigger man was. A well-timed right hand from Ortiz had Jennings wobbled midway through the first round. Despite a barrage of follow-up punches from Ortiz, Jennings was able to survive the round. He quickly regrouped and was able to have a much more successful round 2 by getting in close and smothering the shots of Ortiz.
Ortiz rocked Jennings again in round 3 after landing a good uppercut followed by some right hands. Again, Jennings fought back, trying to chop Ortiz down with his work on the inside. Although Ortiz was the one landing the more damaging shots, it was truly a back and forth fight throughout. Ortiz got on his toes in round 5 as he looked to get some distance to land his shots. Another uppercut from Ortiz appeared to have Jennings hurt momentarily again. In fact, it would be those same uppercuts that would be the downfall of Jennings. In round 7, Ortiz would land a right uppercut followed by a left uppercut to drop Jennings for the first time of his career. Although Jennings beat the count, he was on unsteady legs and a follow-up right and left from Ortiz prompted the referee to call a halt to the fight at 2:41 of round 7.
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