BY GABRIEL PRINCEWILL
Reigning heavyweight champion, Wladimir Klitschko 69 -3 (53) defended his titled successfully against American hopeful, Bryant Jennings 19 -1(10) at Las Vegas with a landslide victory at Madison Square Gardens on Saturday night. Klitschko who has made 17 successful defences in his 9th year unbeaten run as a heavyweight champion, is just 7 fights away from matching the record of Joe Louis, whose unbeaten run stretched to 25 by the time he retired. Britain’s unbeaten Tyson Fury is apparently in line to fight Klitschko next.
The athletic and dominant Ukranian, was however very uninspiring in victory, looking more like a champion whose presence is stifling any possible implosion of a division that has been in the doldrums for years now. Despite the ambassadorial plaudits with which both Wladimir and his retired older brother(Vitali) have been credited over the years, he has failed to excite fans in the consistent victories he has produced as boss of the division.
Whilst American Jennings applied enough pressure on Klitschko that may have compelled the towering Ukranian to play safe for most of the fight, most observers would have preferred to see an emphatic conclusion to the contest. Instead, what we saw was mainly jab, jab, grab, with a few solid hooks from the champion from time to time. Klitschko maintained the good footwork that enables his rhythm to flow well in the sharp and accurate delivery of his trademark jabs often married with right and left hooks to the side of his opponent’s face and head., but it did not entirely keep his optimistic challenger at bay like it has done with previous opponents.
Jennings, who was previously unbeaten gave a good account of himself, always advancing forward with excellent head movement with a fierce launch of attacks to the body that was not enough to force the champion to succumb to his very ambitious in his efforts. A bright prospect from Philadelphia, Jennings is good and efficient, but did not having enough in his locker to overcome the well honed tactics of the experienced heavyweight division ruler. The objectives of his every move seemed to be thwarted by the customary jabbing technic of a man with more than 3 times the experience Jeenings has.
”He would have beaten a lot of top heavyweights tonight”, Klitschko said. I welcome him to the top of the division.
Waldimir Klitschko has dominated the division for so long. His every appearance in the ring now has the semblance of a customary process already designed for a victorious outcome. The result never seems to change once a Klitschko is in the mix. Addressing his next fight, Klitschko said ” I have just heard the news of my obligation to fight Fury. We will have to do it in Europe, maybe Germany or Britain. On the strength of the evidence of Klitschko’s performance on Saturday, Tyson Fury can be given a good underdog’s chance if he comes in the best shape of his life and puts up the performance of his career. I remain doubtful that Fury can topple the reigning champion, but he may really fancy his chances. Fury does not measure up in the power department, but sure has the heart and size to give it a good go.
Waldimir Klitschko has dominated the division for so long. His every appearance in the ring now has the semblance of a customary process already designed for a victorious outcome. The result never seems to change once a Klitschko is in the mix. Addressing his next fight, Klitschko said ” I have just heard the news of my obligation to fight Fury. We will have to do it in Europe, maybe Germany or Britain. On the strength of the evidence of Klitschko’s performance on Saturday, Tyson Fury can be given a good underdog’s chance if he comes in the best shape of his life and puts up the performance of his career. I remain doubtful that Fury can topple the reigning champion, but he may really fancy his chances. Fury does not measure up in the power department, but sure has the heart and size to give it a good go.
Klitschko dismissed any suggestions that his age(39) should be a consideration of how long he continues in the sport, saying ” as long as I am healthy and have great motivation, I will continue. I don’t feel my age in this case. Age is just a number, it depends on your lifestyle. The lifestyle can give you good health and motivation. I enjoy performing and will continue as long as I can”. How long he can indeed continue may depend on how long his performance holds up.
