IN case the WBA didn’t have enough heavyweight champions, with Wladimir Klitschko their Super champion and Ruslan Chagaev a regular champion, Bryant Jennings and Luis Ortiz will fight for a WBA Interim heavyweight title on December 19 at Turning Stone Casino in New York.
While Jennings and Ortiz are in truth heavyweight contenders, this is a quality fight. Jennings put in an impressive challenge against Wladimir Klitschko earlier this year and the unbeaten Ortiz looked slick and powerful on Gennady Golovkin’s recent undercard.
“To headline an HBO event and fighting a former world title contender like Jennings is what I have been preparing my whole career for,” said Ortiz. “I know that after this fight people will know that I deserve a shot at becoming the ‘Heavyweight Champion of the World.’ I think Jennings doesn’t even know what he’s stepping in to on the 19, I’m coming to make a statement. This fight is going to be an exciting stepping stone to achieve my dream.”
“I’m excited to be getting back in the ring against Luis Ortiz, another big heavyweight,” said Bryant Jennings. “He’s coming off an impressive win and he thinks he’s at the top of his game. These are the typical type of opponents I like to showcase my skills against. I’ve come a long way since my last fight against Klitschko, and I have continued to train with a fierce intensity. When you suffer defeat for the first time you learn things about yourself you never knew. I’ve improved a great deal on all aspects of my game both mentally and physically. The world will see a great fight when I square off against Ortiz, that I can guarantee you. I’ll be driving the WBA belt back home to Philly.”
