It appears Wladimir Klitschko’s next challenger is game.
Bryant Jennings will be the undisputed #1 contender for the WBC title if he can beat the winner of Bermane Stiverne (24-1, 21 KOs) and Deontay Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs) with that fight currently scheduled for January 17.
“I could have fought this month but my mind is set on fighting for the WBC world title,” Jennings said. “I worked my way to the top of the WBC rankings and now it’s time for me to make my mark in history. Stiverne or Wilder, I don’t care who it is. I’ll be ready to fight either one of them. My promoters, Gary Shaw, Antonio Leonard, and I are all on the same page. We want that WBC title.
“I’m grinding every day like machine. I’m constantly visualizing myself with my hands raised in the air with the WBC strap around my waist. I’m hungry, man. I know I can do this.”
Even before that, however, it appears that a showdown with Wladimir Klitschko (63-3, 54 KOs) is almost mandatory.
“Bryant is a very gifted athlete who is hungry to show the world that he’s an elite fighter,” his promoter Gary Shaw said. “He has got the athletic ability to have a long career in this sport. The heavyweight division needs a guy like Bryant to be the ambassador for American fighters. He has all the tools to become that guy.”
So while Jennings’ is concentrating on the Stiverne-Wilder winner, Klitschko is his more likely next opponent. If he waits on the Stiverne-Wilder winner, he likely wouldn’t get a shot until at least next summer.
“Bryant is a very gifted athlete who is hungry to show the world that he’s an elite fighter,” Shaw said. “He has got the athletic ability to have a long career in this sport. The heavyweight division needs a guy like Bryant to be the ambassador for American fighters. He has all the tools to become that guy.”
So while Jennings’ focus is on the Stiverne-Wilder winner, Klitschko is his more likely next opponent. If he waits on the Stiverne-Wilder winner, he likely wouldn’t get a shot until at least next summer.
