Heavyweight Jennings stays positive after loss to Klitschko

NEW YORK - Bryant Jennings played on his cellphone late Saturday as he sat behind a microphone at the postfight news conference. The North Philadelphia boxer apologized when it was his time to speak. Jennings had to finish sending a text message.

His unanimous decision loss to Wladimir Klitschko, the world's premier heavyweight, had ended about a half hour earlier. Jennings went the distance at Madison Square Garden, proving to be a stiffer-than-expected challenge over 12 rounds. His phone was abuzz. The boxer tried to answer as many messages as he could.

"My real supporters treat me as if I won because they love me," Jennings said. "Win, lose, or draw, they show the same respect and that's why I show respect to them."

Jennings, 30, tasted defeat for the first time in his career. He fell short of becoming Philadelphia's second heavyweight champion since Joe Frazier, joining Tim Witherspoon. But it was not a wasted effort. Jennings fought in front of the largest crowd and television audience of his career.

Jennings (19-1) was a heavy underdog. But he made the 39-year-old Klitschko (64-3) look human, and that helped increase Jennings' profile.

The final scorecards - 116-111, 116-111, 118-109 - were more lopsided than the fight appeared. Klitschko, who retained his three heavyweight titles, was kept off-guard by Jennings' athleticism. The former Ben Franklin High defensive end bobbed around Klitschko, attacking the champion's body from the side.

"I'm going to hold it down," Jennings said. "My reign is coming. It's not stopping. It never penetrated my confidence. I need people to get on that B.Y. Jennings train. Because I'm coming. And I'm going to make it happen."

Jennings said he would like a rematch. That is unlikely. Klitschko is seeking to fight Britain's Tyson Fury later this year in Europe. Then he could meet Alabama slugger Deontay Wilder, who holds the only heavyweight title that Klitschko does not own (the World Boxing Council belt). Both fights would reap higher paydays than a rematch with Jennings.

"He would have beaten a lot of top heavyweights," Klitschko said. "I welcome him to the top of the heavyweight division."

Klitschko controlled the fight with his left hand. He threw 383 jabs compared with Jennings' 91, according to CompuBox. He said Jennings' style did not allow him to use his right hand.

Jennings said Klitschko's left hand did not hurt him. His face, despite being thumped with jabs, appeared unblemished as Jennings texted his supporters.

The challenger had been away from Philadelphia for three months, training for the fight in Houston. There were a lot of people waiting outside the arena to see him. He wrapped up his remarks and left the stage. Jennings was still standing.

West Philadelphia featherweight Stephen Fulton (5-0, 2 knockouts) won by third-round KO Saturday over Jamal Parram (7-11-1) at Harrah's in Chester. Fulton, 20, was a national amateur champion.