Can Bryant Jennings Pull It Off On Saturday?

New York's Got A Fight On Its Hands This Weekend.

With May 2nd right around the corner, not a whole ton of press is headed in the direction of New York City, even though the heavyweight championship of the world will be battled for there. Yup, Philadelphia's own Bryant Jennings is going to take on international superman Wladimir for the big prize at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.

I've been following Jenning's for a while now and have always been impressed, if not with his ring work, then with his work ethic. Seriously, the guy raised a kid, worked full time and trained his ass off for years. He's also been nice to speak to personally. What's not to like about the man - besides his chances this weekend?

It's true - things don't look good for my fellow American when he steps into the ring with the giant Ukranian, Klitschko (By the way, why is it now wrong for Americans to cheer on American fighters because they're American? When did THAT become the new thing for tisky people to tisk over?). The champ has that incredible reach, after all. Plus that punch. Man. He may not be explosive, but the dude knows how to turn on the lights.

Still, Jennings does have a shot here. I would hope he's studied fights like Dempsey's pummeling of Willard, or Baer's destruction of Canero, in order to see that huge dudes can, in fact, be beat. That might inspire him. Besides, Klitchko not only can be beaten, he's lost several times already. Heck, he himself openly admits to having a weak chin.

The problem, of course, is that - unlike in the past - enormous heavyweights can actually, you know, FIGHT these days. Seriously, that wasn't always the case. It is now, though, and a lot of the credit goes to the late, great Emanuel Steward. He not only trained Klitschko, he trained Lennox Lewis, as well. And those are the two who've brought about this era of supersized heavyweight domination.

As I said, though, Jennings can do it.

It just won't be easy. At all.

First, he's got to get under, around, or through that jab of the champion's. He's also got to avoid the man's howitzer-like punches and avoid getting tied up on the inside. Oh and Jennings has to land - well and with some frequency. If he can do all that, the guy from Philly can stun the world.

And people can tisk at cheering American fans all they want.