Wladimir Klitschko defends heavy weight titles
Wladimir Klitschko shows he’s slowing down in win over Bryant Jennings. Klitschko makes 18th straight successful title defense with points win.
Two judges scored it 116-111 to Klitschko while a third had it 118-109.
Not much was expected from Bryant Jennings in Saturday’s heavyweight title fight with Wladimir Klitschko at Madison Square Garden.
Klitschko’s advantages in height (three inches, at least) and weight (more than 20lb) were foreboding enough, but nothing compared to the gulf in experience. The 39-year-old from Ukraine had more successful title defenses than Jennings had pro fights. The oddsmakers had made the upstart from North Philadelphia as a 10-1 underdog in Klitschko’s first fight on US soil since 2008.
But Jennings had a smart game plan and the nerve to execute it, using constant lateral movement to make Klitschko chase and a dedicated body attack to score in spots. Together the tactics served to disrupt the familiar rhythm at the foundation of Klitschko’s nine-year championship reign, second only to Joe Louis for longest in heavyweight history.
Klitschko, for the first time in what seems like an eternity, was in with an opponent who fought hard for 12 rounds and never stopped trying to figure out a way to win.
Only it wasn’t enough. Not even close, really, as Klitschko earned a unanimous decision to retain his heavyweight titles. Two ringside judges turned in scores of 116-111 while a third scored it 118-109.
