Bryant Jennings defies all odds and nails Steve Collins to grab USBA heavyweight title – Boxing News
Bryant Jennings, the USA Pennsylvania State heavyweight champion, collected an impressive unanimous decision win over more experienced fellow countryman Steve Collins, and grabbed the vacant USBA heavyweight title, in a 10-round bout held on June 16, 2012.
The duo co-headlined the pay-per-view organised and promoted by Kathy Duva of Main Events. The showdown was headlined by the championship bout between Tomasz Adamek and Eddie Chambers for the vacant IBF North American heavyweight title.
The ring for the event was set up at Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, United States and the extravaganza was televised live on NBC’s Sports Network. Bryant, 27, was entering the ring with a list of disadvantages in his gear.
Jennings was entering in his 14th career bout and though boasted an undefeated streak yet was overshadowed by his Saturday night opponent’s experience. Moreover, the young Philadelphia lad was coming from an impressive rather high-profiled win over Siarhei
Liakhovich.
Bryant has nailed just six of his opponents by knockout and also boasted a win over Maurice Byarm, a bout in which he grabbed his career’s very first title that is the USA Pennsylvania State heavyweight gold.
Steve, 28, was entering in his career’s 28th bout and boasted 25 wins. The Texan proud has pinned 18 of his opponents by knockout and therefore not only possessed the experience advantage but also had a pretty decent knockout and win-ratio as well.
The 10-round showdown kicked off in a defensive manner and the duo threw their jabs carefully while assessing each shot and each other’s body movements. It was Bryant who first adopted aggressor role in the third round and started generating combinations.
During the fourth round, Jennings shifted the bout totally in his favour by connecting an upper cut which was followed by a classic left-right combination. As a result of the well targeted strike, Steve got stunned and was technically knocked down amid the
ropes.
From then onwards, Bryant did not look back at all and continuously battered Steve. Bryant did not strive hard to knock the Collins out in fact he did not replicate his fourth round explosive performance at all.
At the end of the 10-round clash, after grabbing the vacant USBA title by receiving 100-89 score from all the three judges, Bryant stated, “I came out to win and that's all I wanted. I don't look for knockouts and I didn't want to force it, but I could've
done a lot more. I still have some tricks in the bag and I still work hard. It was tough but I got through it.”
With this victory Bryant has received his 14th career win and Steve, unfortunately, has collected his second career loss.
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