Bryant Jennings: “I’m aiming to defeat Wladimir Klitschko on April 25th, so I can be immediately imprinted into history!”

I recently had an opportunity to speak with undefeated #1 heavyweight contender, Bryant “By-By” Jennings ahead of his upcoming title shot against IBO/RING heavyweight champion, Wladimir Klitschko. During this interview I speak in detail with Jennings about his preparations for the biggest fight in his boxing career and how he thinks he needs to perform in order to beat the world heavyweight champion. Jennings also talks about the heavyweight division and why he thinks he can be the fighter to take the titles. Additionally Bryant shares his thoughts on the biggest fight in boxing, Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. Here is what Bryant Jennings had to say.

Robert Brown: You have a big fight with Wladimir Klitschko coming up in Madison Square Garden on April 25th. How do you feel about the fight coming up?

Bryant Jennings: It’s a fight of a lifetime. I’m well prepared already, I’m just getting ready for what’s about to come.

Robert Brown: What do you feel your strengths will be in going up against Klitschko?

Bryant Jennings: My athleticism, youth. I have a lot of other strengths that we need to match and we’ll see who has the best of the strengths and those are the things that I’m not going to point out because those are the things that will show what we’re actually bringing. I think I can outclass him in a lot of the things that he thinks he has more strengths in.

Robert Brown: The heavyweight division has been the source of a lot of ridicule in recent years. How do you feel about the depth of the heavyweight division at the moment?

Bryant Jennings:: The heavyweight division is shaping up pretty well and I want to be the person to fight everybody, therefore I can have my own legacy. If I don’t fight everybody, then I won’t be imprinted into history because nowadays it’s very hard because we’re living in a very difficult era of heavyweight boxing and it’s very hard for somebody to be mentioned along with the greats such as Ali, Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, the Klitschko’s.

That’s why I’m aiming to defeat Wladimir Klitschko on April 25th, so I can be immediately imprinted into history and then extend it by beating all the guys that underestimated me, that think they’re big and bad enough. I’m willing to clear out the heavyweight division once I become champ.

Robert Brown: Would you rather have had a tune up fight before you went in against Klitschko, or are you happy with the condition you’re in at the moment?

Bryant Jennings: From when I was ten years old until the time I first started boxing I had a fourteen year layoff. I came into this sport late and therefore there’s a lot of things I learned to do and a lot of ways I learned to stay active without actually getting into the ring. I’m always at the gym, I’m always weeks away from fight shape and right now there’s no such thing as a layoff to me because it’s all new to me but there’s nothing that I’m not expecting.

Robert Brown: A lot of the media are talking about who Klitschko is going to fight after you and they’re not giving you a chance. Are you annoyed by that?

Bryant Jennings: No I’m not annoyed and I’m not surprised. Being the person that’s going to battle or going to war, you never overlook your opponent and you never underestimate your opponent. You stick to your guns and you make sure that you take care of your opponents one fight at a time because you never know who’s going to be the one to take you off your throne.

You always have to be focused on who you have in front of you and all of those future negotiations, you can kiss those things goodbye. People are wasting his time because I’m not underestimating him one bit. I’m going into this training camp to make sure we execute the way we’re supposed to do it. If he’s thinking he’s gonna have an easy night, then he’s gonna be surprised.

Robert Brown: Assuming that you get past Klitschko, who would you be targeting next?

Bryant Jennings: I just touched on the simple fact of not thinking past what I have in front of me. I’m not sure on any of that. My only focus right now is on winning this fight and getting those titles and we go from there.

Robert Brown: Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao is going to happen about five years after it should have happened. Can I get your thoughts on that fight?

Bryant Jennings: The fight should have happened some time ago, but it’s still a highly recommended fight and it’s definitely one of the biggest fights in my time, maybe other than Tyson vs. Holyfield.

The best fights are always made three or four years after they would have hit their peak. This fight is four or five years off but it’s still a huge fight and it’s going to be a great night. It’s going to be a great event. Who wins the fight? That’s neither here nor there, but it’s definitely going to be a great event, it’s going to be a great experience. It’s going to be great for boxing, Vegas is going to be packed and everybody is going to be out, everybody is coming to that fight.

Robert Brown:: If you had to put money on the fight, who would you tip?

Bryant Jennings: I’m not a gambler and I can only speak for myself when I’m talking about putting money on things. It’s up in the air but I would lean more towards Floyd because I’ve always been a Floyd fan but you never know what can happen. I’m assuming that Floyd wins this fight but I don’t know, my assumptions could be wrong but I know Pacquiao will come ready and it will be a great fight.