ROC NATION SPORTS ANNOUNCES NEWLY SIGNED BRYANT JENNINGS TO CHALLENGE WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO
APRIL 25 AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN IN NEW YORK CITY
LIVE ON HBO
New York, NY (January 20, 2014) – Roc Nation Sports has reached an agreement for newly signed boxer Bryant Jennings (19-0, 10 KO’s) to face Heavyweight World Champion Wladimir Klitschko (63-3, 53 KO’s) on April 25 at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City in a fight that will air live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing. Jennings will challenge Klitschko for his International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Association, World Boxing Organization and International Boxing Organization titles.
“Roc Nation Sports is proud to present Jennings with the opportunity to win the Heavyweight Unified Title of the World,” said Gary Shaw, Roc Nation Sports Boxing executive.
The undefeated Jennings most recently faced then fellow unbeaten heavyweight contender Mike Perez (20-0-1, 12 KO’s) in New York on July 26, 2014 at Madison Square Garden, scoring a 12-round split decision victory. The Philadelphia native is a dynamic puncher who has achieved top ratings across all major sanctioning organizations and has his sights set on bringing the unified heavyweight world titles back to the United States.
”This is the moment I have been waiting for,” said Jennings. “Now it’s time to bring the belts home.”
Klitschko’s battle with Jennings will be his 27th heavyweight championship fight. In addition, this will be Klitschko’s first U.S. appearance in seven years since his first unification fight on February 23, 2008 against Sultan Ibragimov. Klitschko has held the title since April 22, 2006 and has defended it 17 times, making him second to legendary Joe Louis as the longest reigning world champion in heavyweight history.
About Roc Nation Sports
Roc Nation Sports, a division of Roc Nation, launched in spring 2013. The roster includes includes premiere athletes such as Robinson Cano, Skylar Diggins, Kevin Durant, Geno Smith, Victor Cruz, CC Sabathia, James Young, Hakeem Nicks, Dez Bryant, Ndamukong Suh, Rusney Castillo, and Yoenis Cespedes. Roc Nation Sports focuses on elevating athletes’ career on a global scale both on and off the field by fully conceptualizing and executing marketing and endorsement deals, community outreach, charitable tie-ins, media relations and brand strategy. Roc Nation Sports launched its boxing division, a full service promotional company, in August 2014 and has signed boxers including Andre Ward, Bryant Jennings and Dusty Hernandez-Harrison.