LONDON - BoxNation are delighted to announce they will be screening undisputed heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko’s April 25th fight with leading contender Bryant Jennings live and exclusive.

The Ukrainian superstar has enjoyed a 10-year title reign at the top of boxing’s glamour division but will now put his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts on the line against the undefeated Jennings at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York.

Klitschko will return to fight on US soil for the first time since February 2008, with the bout set to have high British interest with Manchester heavyweight Tyson Fury mandated to fight the winner later this year.

Overcoming Jennings will be no easy task for 39-year-old Klitschko, with the Philadelphian, who has a three-inch reach advantage, hoping to become the first unified American heavyweight champion in more than 13 years.

After building up an unbeaten record of 19 straight wins, 10 coming by way of knockout, Jennings is confident that he can finally become the man to dethrone Klitschko, who has won 63 fights, 53 by knockout, with only 3 losses – the last coming over a decade ago.

“I do have great respect for Bryant Jennings and his achievements. He has good movement in the ring and good technique. I know this will be a tough challenge,” said Klitschko.

“I am extremely happy to fight in New York City again. I had my first unification fight there and a lot of great heavyweight matches have taken place at Madison Square Garden. It will definitely be a great fight night and I will do everything for it from my side,” he added.

Jennings has been in equally buoyant mood ahead of the fight and said: “On April 25th history will definitely be made and it will be made by me. One of us has to lose and it isn’t going to be me. Enough of the talking, I’m ready to fight.”

Jim McMunn, Managing Director of BoxNation, stated: “We are extremely pleased to be able to bring BoxNation subscribers this enthralling fight. There is always something special about the heavyweights and given the British interest in this fight, with Tyson Fury up next for the winner, it will be a very intriguing and exciting match-up. Wladimir Klitschko has been pound-for-pound one of the very best for so long but in Bryant Jennings he faces an undefeated and highly-skilled contender that is coming to win.”

‘The Champion Returns’ bill will also see one of boxing’s emerging stars in the unbeaten Sadam Ali take on the quick handed Francisco Santana as the co-feature in a 10-round welterweight clash.

BoxNation offers real value-for-money for fight fans, at just £12 a month, with a number of high-profile bouts coming up live and exclusive on the channel with light-welterweight kingpins Danny Garcia and Lamont Peterson facing-off plus Andy Lee vs Peter Quillin on April 11th, followed by a night to remember on April 18th with three back-to-back live fights.

Those include Liverpool lightweight Derry Matthews challenging Richard Abril for the WBA world title, with rising star Terence Crawford looking to become a two-weight champion against Thomas Dulorme, before hard-hitters Lucas Matthysse and Ruslan Provodnikov exchange blows.

That night is followed by Klitschko vs Jennings on April 25th, before a huge battle in front of 40,000 fans at the iconic Minute Maid Park baseball ground takes place between Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez and formidable puncher James Kirkland on May 9th.

To subscribe to BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 546 and TalkTalk 525) for only £12 a month visit boxnation.com.

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About BoxNation

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Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

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Chertsey heavyweight hope Nick Webb attributes the formidable power and athleticism that took him to an ABA final in the amateurs to his time as a teenage athlete, writes Glynn Evans.

‘Prior to boxing, I threw the shot put and discus for Newham and Essex Beagles AC from the age of 13 and that made me very strong,’ claims the 6ft 6in, 18 stone colossus who makes his pro bow in a four rounder against Croatia’s Hrvoje Kisicek at the York Hall tonight, live and exclusive BoxNation.

‘The shot developed the power for my straight right hand and the discuss developed the rotation for the hooks. I also played basketball and rugby,’

The 27 year old disclosed that he took to the fight game relatively late.

‘My granddad had been a boxer and had also done a bit of bare knuckle stuff. I always showed an interest when he spoke about his fights and, as the biggest kid, I was always fighting myself as a younger man,’ he says.

‘I always loved watching the boxing as a kid. My heroes were Ali and Lennox Lewis. Ali was always entertaining. I loved his speed and movement. Lewis could throw power shots from any angle. Granddad passed away when I was about 22 and that’s when I started up myself.’

Boxing for the Woking ABC in Surrey, the qualified electrician who now works as a personal trainer didn’t start competing until he was 22.

‘I was 147 kilos (23st 2lbs!) when I had my first proper bout,’ he recalls.

‘I had 27 amateur fights and lost just five - three of them to (2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist) Joe Joyce. He’s the best I fought; doesn’t hit especially hard but throws so many. He’s extremely fit and can ship tremendous punishment.

‘First time was a very good, close fight that went to points. Second time, in the 2012 ABA quarter finals, a few people thought that I won but I didn’t. Joe out worked me.

‘Third fight, in the 2014 ABA semis, I had the wrong game plan. I went in trying to knock him out and nailed him clean a few times but he just took them and kept coming back. Eventually he overwhelmed me. I couldn’t cope with his high work rate. He never put me over - no one has - and I weren’t really wobbling.’

Joyce, of course, is presently ripping up trees in the World Series of Boxing so no disgrace there. Besides, there were several other good nights.

Webb says: ‘In 2013 I got to the (English senior) ABA final against Anthony Richardson from the Army but lost a 3-2 majority decision. The fight was held up in the north-east (Rainton Meadows Arena) where he was from and he had a massive crowd which I believe influenced the judges. I gave him two counts in the final round and the TV commentators had me winning.

‘Before that, I won the National Novices for under 20 bouts and I also beat a 155 kilo (24st 5lb) guy on a club show in Chicago. The Woking was a great club for trips. We also went across to the MGM gym in Marbella.

‘My goal as an amateur was to get on the GB set-up in Sheffield and I had four trials. I thought I did well but they already had Joyce and Frazier Clarke and didn’t need me.’

When ex WBO heavyweight challenger Scott Welch approached with an offer to join the profession. ‘Big Nick’ decided to take the plunge.

 ‘The prospect of tutelage off Scott was a big factor in me accepting,’ says Webb who is managed and coached by the former British champion. 

‘I train with him three times a say down in Brighton from Monday to Friday and we get on really well. Already I’ve learned a lot of technical stuff from him. He’s helped me with my power and how to use my strength on the inside. He preaches: ‘Big man, small target.’ An ex Marine called Matt runs with me and helps with my strength and conditioning.’

The sport will never have too many big hitting heavyweights and the Surrey giant promises to be a very welcome addition to the industry.

He concludes: ‘I see myself as an entertaining fighter. I can box but first and foremost, I like to brawl. You’ll not find many heavyweights stronger than me. I’m pretty heavy handed and can throw all the shots. My game will be far better suited to the pros. Now I mainly need to develop my defence and fitness.

‘I’m just gonna train as hard as I possibly can, take one fight at a time and build my record. Ultimately, I wanna be the lion in the jungle!’ 

London Live, the capital’s TV channel, proudly announces its first live sporting event programme, ‘Live: The London Boxing Championships’ which will broadcast the London ABA Elite Boxing Finals on Sunday 29th March at 3pm on London Live.

The special 3 hour live show will be broadcast from Fairfield Halls in Croydon, the London ABA Elite Boxing Finals will feature twenty competitors both male and female, across ten fights from clubs across London. The competition will feature and showcase the very best upcoming talent before they move into the National Finals.

Sports broadcaster, Charlie Webster will be presenting the show (credits include Sky Sports, Eurosport and Channel 4) and Boxing journalist for the Independent Chris Lloyd will be commentating throughout the programme.

The London ABA Elite Boxing Finals is an important and prestigious platform for young aspiring Londoner’s to develop and gain essential experience building up to the World Stage. Over the last 60 years the championships have produced a number of world-renowned names and Olympic Champions from Terry Spinks (West Ham Boys), James Degale (Dale Youth) to latterly Anthony Joshua (Finchley ABC) and Nicola Adams (Haringey Police ABC).

Tim Kirkman, Chief Operating Officer for London Live said, “We are thrilled to be broadcasting the London ABA Elite Boxing Finals, boxing is a hugely exciting sport and has a long deep rooted history in London. Showcasing and providing a platform for young aspiring talent is hugely important – we are very proud to be airing Live: The London Boxing Championships.”

Keith Walters, President England Boxing & Hon Sec London ABA said, “It is fitting that the modern sport of amateur boxing, which was born in London in 1880 and has spread throughout the world, should be televised live by a London TV company. London Live’s enthusiasm for our championship finals has added an extra edge to what has always been an outstanding day of quality boxing, often being the first step for many of our boxers on their way to achieving international fame.”

Ron Philipson, President London ABA said, “London Live is a very exciting development for London boxing, all of us at the London ABA are looking forward to building a long term partnership with London Live in order to further develop media coverage of our top boxers and to bring to light the outstanding day to day community work carried out by London ABA’s boxing clubs”