The world’s premier heavyweight returns to New York for a title showdown when HBO World Championship Boxing Wladimir Klitschko vs. Bryant Jennings, along with a co-feature of Sadam Ali vs. Francisco Santana, is seen on Saturday, April 25 at 10:00 p.m. from Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Klitschko vs. Jennings Press Conference Photos, Quotes & Video
Bryant Jennings:
“What should I say more. Everyone knows what we do. I’ve been putting in work. People that question or doubt what I do they are retarded. April 25th it’s going down. I don’t know what else to say.
“April 25th is history for me, my team and Philadelphia.”
Wladimir Klitschko:
“I’m excited about the fight. It is the right time, the right venue and right opponent.
“Thanks to the Garden. You were always loyal to the Klitschko brothers.
“15 years ago I fought on the Lennox Lewis – Michael Grant Undercard, my first appearance in the Garden and on HBO. 15 years later I am still around and I wish a can be 49 and still perform.”
“Bryant, you are a great fighter, I’ve been studying you. You have good skills and you’re using them in the ring. You’re excited.”
Fight Preview:
Boasting a collection of title belts, Wladimir Klitschko (63-3, 54 KOs) from Kiev, Ukraine, and now residing in Miami, takes on Philadelphia’s undefeated Bryant Jennings (19-0, 10 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round championship contest. Long dominating the heavyweight division, three-time champ Klitschko won his first title belt in March 2001. He has a sterling championship bout record of 24-2 and is on a 21-fight victory streak since his loss to Lamon Brewster in April 2004. At one point he and his now-retired brother, Vitali, concurrently held every major heavyweight championship belt between them.
The upcoming bout marks Wladimir’s first fight in the U.S. since 2008 and his 20th HBO bout; he first appeared on the network in July 2000 when he handled Monte Barrett with a seventh-round TKO.
Training in Oakland, Cal., Jennings hopes to use his power and ring agility to spring one of the biggest surprises in recent heavyweight history. His previous two opponents were undefeated prior to facing off against Jennings, while the combined records of his last four opponents was 82-4 before they encountered him.
The opening bout is a scheduled ten-round welterweight contest between Brooklyn’s Sadam Ali (21-0, 13 KOs) and Francisco Santana (22-3-1, 11 KOs) of Santa Barbara, Cal. Ali made his HBO debut last November with a dominating knockout performance against Luis Carlos Abregu. Now he’ll defend his undefeated record against Santana, who’s making his HBO debut.
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Immediately following the live boxing, HBO Sports will present the premiere of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao: The Legends Speak, the half-hour special includes interviews with the five fighters who have faced both Pacquiao and Mayweather in the ring. De La Hoya, Marquez, Cotto, Mosley and Hatton. Take a look at what to expect from that show here:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VeWLjU9JZSc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUgLOf-atyg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzlT2hV_OWM
