Longtime heavyweight champ Klitschko takes on Philly's Jennings

NEW YORK - All Wladimir Klitschko needs to do is survey the landscape to get beyond his age's being anything more than a number, not that it has been much of a problem at all.

One week after the 39-year-old heavyweight champion puts his many title belts on the line against Philadelphian Bryant Jennings on Saturday at Madison Square Garden, Manny Pacquiao, 37, and Floyd Mayweather, 38, recognized as the No. 2 and No. 1 pound-for-pound fighters in the world, will fight for the biggest purse in the sport's history.

Philadelphian Bernard Hopkins, 50, lost his multiple light-heavyweight titles to Sergey Kovalev last year but is still rated No. 2 by Ring magazine.

So when Klitschko (63-3, 54 knockouts), fighting in the United States for the first time in seven years, bemoans the fact that his sparring partners are much younger than he is, the fact remains that the 6-foot-6, 245-pounder continues to be the dominant heavyweight on the planet.

"They are just so much younger than I am," Klitschko said. "I remember when I was the young, hungry guy. I see a lot of them in me. I see a lot of Bryant Jennings in me. He's young and he's hungry."

If the script plays out the way it has since Klitschko knocked out Chris Byrd in the seventh round on April 22, 2006, to become heavyweight champ for a second time, the outcome will be of little surprise. Despite his age, he takes into the ring with him a significant power advantage and a stiff jab that most suspect will be problematic for Jennings (19-0, 10 KOs).

The fight will be Klitschko's 18th title defense, third most in heavyweight history behind only Larry Holmes (20) and Joe Louis (25, the all-time record for any weight class).

On Tuesday at the final news conference here, Klitschko appeared genuinely excited to be fighting again on American soil.

Despite being the heavy favorite, Klitschko said he is not taking the North Philly native lightly, which would be understandable. He's not talking about retiring anytime soon, and there is the potential for a very enticing fight in the not-so-distant future against newly crowned WBC heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder.

"There is a certain reflection of the region where the fighter is coming from, of the trainers that he was working with," Klitschko said. "I think that I'm going to expect a Philly fighter. A fighter from Philadelphia that is similar to [Joe] Frazier and [Tim] Witherspoon and many other fighters from the region. I think it's going to be challenge."

A big question for Jennings, 30, is how he will try to fight Klitschko, who is a better puncher on the outside and has one of the highest knockout percentages in boxing.

The older, grizzled champion sounds prepared for whatever Jennings throws at him.

"I understand that we're all limited in our capabilities," Klitschko said. "Bryant Jennings can fight as Bryant Jennings. He cannot fight like Mike Tyson or Muhammad Ali or somebody else."

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Jennings undaunted by Klitschko's tall task

NEW YORK - As he wrapped up his final press responsibilities Wednesday at Madison Square Garden, Bryant Jennings made it seem as though he's bringing more than just his two hands into the ring on Saturday.

"This fight is for myself, my team and everybody who is part of the team," the North Philadelphia heavyweight said. "We all share the same dream."

On Saturday, Jennings (19-0, 10 knockouts) will have the grandest dream of his lifetime standing across from him - a chance to dislodge Wladimir Klitschko (63-3, 50 KO), the lineal heavyweight champion of the world and holder of the throne the last nine years, from his titles.

Jennings, 30, is aware of the challenge that the 39-year-old Klitschko represents. He looks to notch his 18th consecutive title defense, which would tie him with Larry Holmes at No. 2 all-time. And he is not talking about retiring very soon, so it is conceivable that the dominant champion could one day eclipse Joe Louis' gold standard of 25.

Just days before the fight, though, Jennings, rarely smiling, appeared undaunted by the task ahead of him.

"It's a wonderful world, it's a wonderful opportunity at the top of the food chain," Jennings, nicknamed "Bye-Bye," said. "This is an epic situation and it's what every heavyweight fighter dreams of."

The smaller man - he's four inches shorter than the 6-foot-6 Klitschko and on average fights about 20 pounds lighter than Klitschko's typical 245 - Jennings has not revealed how he plans to pull off the upset.

Surprisingly, Jennings has the longer reach (84 inches to 81). However, Klitschko is adept at peppering opponents with his jab. And when required, he is comfortable taking his power inside to fight at close range.

A three-sport athlete while a student at Ben Franklin High School, Jennings' trainer Gary Shaw says his fighter's athleticism will be a factor.

"He's the best athlete that Klitschko has ever faced," he flatly states.

Klitschko, who last defended his title in the United States in 2008, said that when the bright lights in the Garden come on, Jennings will be in for a surprise.

"There is no grandmother in the ring, no trainer," Klitschko said. "It's just going to be me and Bryant Jennings in the ring. Nobody is going to hop in there. It's just going to be two gentlemen who will explain with their fists who is stronger."

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