In a heavyweight division that features the likes of Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury and Luis Ortiz, Bryant Jennings is slowly but surely working his up to a title opportunity.
Jennings headlined the latest of Top Rank Boxing?s ESPN cards, stopping Alexander Dimitrenko in the ninth round of a fight that took place at the Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
It was a tough night for Jennings en route to his win as he had to come from behind in order to get the win. Dimitrenko knocked down Jennings with a right hand to the side of Jennings? head in the fourth round and looked to be in control.
But as the fight continued, Dimitrenko started to tire out and Jennings mounted a fierce comeback that started with two knockdowns in the eighth round. After a brief exchange started in the ninth round, Dimitrenko was hurt and the referee immediately stopped the fight, awarding the victory to Jennings.
Although Jennings won?t be getting a world title fight anytime soon, it was a step in the right direction for Jennings? career after losing two title fights to Wladimir Klitschko and Luis Ortiz in 2015. Since those two losses, Jennings has won all five of his fights, four of which came by either knockout or stoppage.
The other big winner on the ESPN card was super middleweight contender Jesse Hart. Hart stopped Mike Gavronski in the third round to retain the NABF super middleweight title. It was Hart?s third straight win after losing to WBO super middleweight champion Gilberto Ramirez in 2017. With Hart coming into the fight as the No. 1 super middleweight in the WBO rankings, Hart could be in line for a rematch against Ramirez for the title down the road.