NORTH PHILADELPHIA – Upstart heavyweight Bryant Jennings, 12-0, 5 KOs, believes that when opportunity knocks, you have no choice but to answer. In January, Jennings stepped into the main event of the inaugural telecast of NBC Sports Network’s “Fight Night” boxing series by seizing one of those unlikely opportunities that sometimes come along.
On one week’s notice, Jennings accepted a fight with another undefeated prospect and came away with a nationally televised 10-round victory, and for the first time in his career, left a fight with a little buzz surrounding his name. That buzz translated into yet another opportunity for Jennings on the very next NBC Sports Network “Fight Night” show, promoted by Main Events, March 24th. The fight will be part of fantastic night of boxing featuring Zab Judah vs. Vernon Paris. The broadcast begins at 10PM ET.
On March 24th, Jennings will take on his stiffest test to date when he meets former WBO heavyweight champion Sergei Liakhovich, 25-4, 16 KOs, at the Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn, New York. Although Jennings impressed in his last bout, a unanimous decision over Maurice Byarm, some believe that with the worldly Liakhovich, he’s bitten off a little more than he can chew. But Jennings doesn’t agree.
“I know for sure that I’m ready,” Jennings said before his typically rigorous workout at the ABC Recreation Center in North Philly. “Everything I do is for a reason. It’s a pretty good step up for me, and I know it’s not going to be easy. But I got to move forward. Everything is going to get tougher now. I know that’s the way it has to be.”
The fact that Liakhovich has been to the top of the heavyweight division and has faced a level of opposition far deeper and more accomplished than the 27-year old Jennings, figures to be the former champ’s biggest edge in the fight. However, supporters of Jennings can’t help but wonder if Liakhovich still has enough gas left in his tank to fight off the challenge of a hungry and confident prospect like the Philadelphian.
“They say he’s been there, but in the last four years he’s had four fights. And he’s lost two of them,” said Jennings’ trainer Fred Jenkins, Sr. “You’ve got an old race horse going against a young race horse. So who you betting on?”
Jennings knows what his opponent has done in the past, but realizes that now is time to make the most of his latest and biggest opportunity.
“He’s trying to work his way back to being a contender, and I’m here to step in his way,” said Jennings. “He’s also in my way, so that’s when we clash and collide.”
Jennings’ desire to win is palpable. Under the watchful eye of his trainer, Bryant sweats and grunts his way through a daily training regimen that emphasizes hard work and clear focus. This is one young man who does not look beyond the next step. He refuses to be seduced by the promise of his potentially bright future.
“What’s in front of me right now, this fight, is more important than my future,” Jennings said. “Tomorrow is not promised, so I’m working on what’s going on right now. My future lies within this fight.”
Be sure to tune into NBCSN for all the action following the NCAA basketball tournament!
To find the location of the NBC Sports Network on your local cable, satellite or IPTV provider, click here:http://www.nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/30092015/ns/sports/
Fight Info:
Tickets to the blockbuster triple-header, priced at $200, $100 and $75 and may be purchased by calling Main Events (973) 200-7050, Peltz Boxing (215) 765-0922, or online through www.peltzboxing.com. The non-televised undercard fights will begin at 7:30 p.m., the NBC Sports Network Fight Night broadcast will begin at 10 p.m. ET on Mar 24th.
The Aviator Sports and Events Center offers free parking. You can also take public transportation via the Q35 MTA bus from the Flatbush Avenue/Brooklyn College subway station.
NBC SPORTS NETWORK FIGHT NIGHT SCHEDULE (All Times ET)
Saturday March 24,10pm – Aviator Sports and Events Center, Brooklyn, NY
Friday, June 1, 9-11 pm – Sands Casino Resort, Bethlehem, PA
Saturday, June 16, 9-11 pm – Site TBA
Saturday, December 8, 9-11 pm – Site TBA
Tweet the link to NBC Sports Network Fight Night channel finder: bit.ly/175UuU
Twitter: #FightNight
Twitter: @main_events @NBCSN
Facebook: facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing facebook.com/NBCSports
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
The sad part is they do not see it themselves. Through technology and research it has become
quite obvious that boxing for health and fitness is not
only for people who want to get fit and
reduce weight but is now a common way of training for professional athletes and groups seeking to improve their performance on the
sports area. An automatic response during crunch time improves sports performance.