Bryant Jennings vs. Oscar Rivas - January 18, 2019

[Ruthless-RKO]

Bryant “B.Y.” Jennings is itching for another heavyweight world title shot. The 34-year-old Philadelphia native has won five consecutive bouts, four by knockout, and is intent on making an emphatic statement.

Jennings will put his IBF International and NABO heavyweight belts on the line in a 12-round showdown against the unbeaten NABF champion Oscar “Kaboom” Rivas on Friday, Jan. 18 at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y. In the 10-round co-feature, undefeated featherweight sensation and 2016 U.S. Olympic silver medalist Shakur Stevenson will face an opponent to be determined on ESPN+.

Rivas' participation in the bout is contingent on him defending his NABF title on Dec. 1 against Fabio Maldonado in Quebec City.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM), ticket information for this world-class night of boxing will be announced shortly.

Jennings (24-2, 14 KOs), a former football, basketball, and track star at North Philadelphia’s Ben Franklin High School, did not pick up a pair of boxing gloves until he was 24 years old. He turned pro following an abbreviated 17-fight amateur career and quickly rose the ranks despite his limited experience. He fought valiantly in a 2015 title shot against Wladimir Klitschko, pushing the future Hall of Famer the distance in front of 17,056 fans at Madison Square Garden. Following a TKO defeat to Luis Ortiz later that year at Turning Stone Resort Casino, Jennings took 20 months off, returning to action in August 2017 under the Top Rank banner.

Since then, he has been one of the busiest heavyweight contenders as he seeks another shot on the world championship stage. In his last bout, Aug. 18 in Atlantic City as the headliner on an ESPN-televised card, Jennings recovered from a fourth-round knockdown to stop longtime contender Alexander Dimitrenko in the ninth.

Rivas (24-0, 17 KOs), a former Colombian amateur standout who now lives in Montreal, has fought all but two of his professional bouts in Canada. A nine-year pro, he transitioned to the paid ranks following a 2007 Pan American Games silver medal and quarterfinal berth at the 2008 Olympics. At 31 years old, the athletic, 240-pound Rivas is in his physical prime. He won the NABF title on Sept. 28, 2017 with a spectacular first-round stoppage against former world title challenger Carl Davis Drummond. In his last outing, May 19 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, he wore down Herve Hubeaux and prevailed via 10-round unanimous decision to retain the NABF title.

Stevenson (9-0, 5 KOs), a proud native of Newark, N.J., authored one of the great United States amateur careers. At the 2016 Olympics, Stevenson earned a silver medal following a controversial 2-1 decision loss to Cuba’s Robeisy Ramirez in the championship match. Using that heartbreak as motivation, Stevenson soon showed why he is considered among the sport’s rising stars. He went 5-0 with three knockouts in 2018, and in his last fight, Oct. 13 on the ESPN-televised undercard of the Terence Crawford-Jose Benavidez Jr. main event, he knocked down Viorel Simion three times en route to a first-round TKO. Simion, 21-2 entering the fight, had never been knocked down as a pro.

[joshj909]

Just saw this. Good fight for me. Rivas stepping up and Jennings taking on a game opponent which is always good to see from contenders.

[oogiebe]

Rivas will KO Jennings mid to late rounds.

[sweetviolenturge]

It'll be good to get a look at Rivas. I've been wanting to see him step up his opposition for years now & Jennings is pretty much a perfect opponent for him to do so. If he beats the Philadelphian he firmly sets himself up in the division as a legit contender & if Jennings beats him then he sets himself up for another title shot and/or big money fight.
Of course, the Jennings fight will be out the window if Rivas doesn't get Fabio Maldonado out of there on December 1. But, that shouldn't be a problem judging by what I've seen of the Brazilian's boxing skills during the many times that I've seen him fight in MMA. Despite him 26-0 record, his skills are minimal & his chin isn't all that sturdy so Rivas should belt him out inside of a couple of rounds.

[Mexi-Box]

Rivas finally stepping up. Man, his career has been disappointing so far. Next big contender the winner will be.

[oogiebe]

Rivas finally stepping up. Man, his career has been disappointing so far. Next big contender the winner will be.

Rivas has a history of eye problems. This may be his last chance to move into the discussion.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Former secondary junior lightweight world titlist Jason Sosa (21-3-4, 15 KOs), 30, of Camden, New Jersey, has been scheduled for his next bout.

It will take place against a foe to be determined on the Jan. 18 Top Rank on ESPN+ card headlined by the Bryant Jennings-Oscar Rivas heavyweight fight at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York, Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti told ESPN.

After consecutive losses to Vasiliy Lomachenko and Yuriorkis Gamboa in 2017, Sosa returned for an eight-round decision win over Reynaldo Blanco on Aug. 18 on Jennings' last undercard.

[ElJefe]

Decent fight. Am I right in thinking Rivas is only about 6'1? Jennings might have the height and reach at least, if not the weight advantage. I'd like to see Jennings vs Hunter at some point.

[Ron C]

Let’s go Jennings!!

[Ruthless-RKO]

[oogiebe]

Pretty much a shutout win for Rivas v. Maldanado. Less than stellar performance by RIvas has me thinking Jennings may get a good win in January.

[Ruthless-RKO]

How far is Jennings from getting another world title shot?

[tiny_acres]

How far is Jennings from getting another world title shot?

He's rated #2 by the wbo
So after WHyte he looks to be their next one.
So maybe 24 months

[Ruthless-RKO]

How far is Jennings from getting another world title shot?

He's rated #2 by the wbo
So after WHyte he looks to be their next one.
So maybe 24 months

IF he keeps winning.. I can see Parker fighting him in the next year..

I know Hearn is saying Whyte is #1 with WBO, but is he actually the mandatory challenger? I mean there hasn't been a final eliminator or anything... but then again, these org's all follow different rules.

[dagilechia]

there are rumours that Jennings will fight Pulev if he defeats Rivas

[oogiebe]

there are rumours that Jennings will fight Pulev if he defeats Rivas

Wow...haven't heard that one. Been hearing Miller/Jennings from the rumour mill, although I doubt that timing would work.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Shakur Stevenson to fight Jessie Cris Rosales on Jan. 18 card

Featherweight Shakur Stevenson, the 2016 U.S. Olympic silver medalist and one of boxing's elite prospects, will face Jessie Cris Rosales in a 10-round fight on Jan. 18, Top Rank announced Thursday.

The fight, at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York, will serve as the co-feature of the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN+ card (9:30 p.m. ET for main card, full card beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET). The previously announced heavyweight bout between former world title challenger Bryant Jennings (24-2, 14 KOs), of Philadelphia, and Oscar Rivas (25-0, 17 KOs), a Colombia native fighting out of Montreal, is the other feature fight.

Stevenson (9-0, 5 KOs), 21, of Newark, New Jersey, fought five times in 2018 and stamped himself as one of the boxing's best up-and-comers, closing out his year with a surprising first-round knockout of battle-tested Viorel Simion on Oct. 13. Now Stevenson will face Rosales (22-1-1, 10 KOs), 27, of the Philippines, whose only defeat came two fights ago by second-round knockout at the hands of former two-division world titlist Jhonny Gonzalez, long one of boxing's best punchers.

"I am ready to fight the best featherweights in the world," Stevenson said. "2019 is going to be a year to remember for me. Rosales is a tough opponent, but he's going to be no match for my speed and power."

The card will also feature the professional debut of Vikas "The Indian Tank" Krishan, the former two-time Indian Olympian and the most decorated amateur in Indian history. He will face Steven Andrade (3-3, 2 KOs), 32, of Cartersville, Georgia, in a scheduled six-round junior middleweight bout.

Krishan, a 26-year-old southpaw who signed with Top Rank in November, represented India at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and is the only Indian boxer to win gold medals at both the Asian and Commonwealth Games. At the 2012 Olympics, he was awarded a victory against Errol Spence Jr., now a welterweight world titleholder, only to have the win overturned hours later because of fouls committed during the match.

"I was an amateur for a very long time, and the time was finally right to turn pro," Krishan said. "I do not take this opportunity lightly and I look forward to showcasing my skills to boxing fans from around the world. I also want to show that Indians are not only good in medical studies, but we know how to fight as well."

Krishan trains in Newark with Wali Moses, Stevenson's grandfather, but he also plans to continue to train with the Indian National Team with the possibility of attempting to make the 2020 Olympic team now that professional fighters are allowed to compete.

Also on the card:

• Junior middleweight Carlos Adames (15-0, 12 KOs) will face Juan Ruiz (21-3, 13 KOs) in an eight- or 10-round fight.

• Junior lightweight Robson Conceicao (10-0, 5 KOs), a 2016 Brazilian Olympic gold medalist, will face Hector Ambriz (12-8-2, 6 KOs) in an eight-round fight.

• Former secondary junior lightweight titlist Jason Sosa (21-3-4, 15 KOs) will square off with Moises Delgadillo (17-18-2, 9 KOs) in an eight- or 10-round bout.

• Junior welterweight Fazliddin Gaibnazarov (6-0, 3 KOs), a 2016 Olympic gold medalist from Uzbekistan, will fight Ricardo Garcia (14-4-1, 9 KOs) in an eight-round bout.

• Heavyweight Cassius Chaney (14-0, 8 KOs) will take on Michael Glasscox (6-2-2, 5 KOs) in a six-round fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

there are rumours that Jennings will fight Pulev if he defeats Rivas

Wow...haven't heard that one. Been hearing Miller/Jennings from the rumour mill, although I doubt that timing would work.

Makes sense since Pulev signed with Top Rank.

[oogiebe]

there are rumours that Jennings will fight Pulev if he defeats Rivas

Wow...haven't heard that one. Been hearing Miller/Jennings from the rumour mill, although I doubt that timing would work.

Makes sense since Pulev signed with Top Rank.

Well if that happened, we'd be rid of one of them for a while.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Wow...haven't heard that one. Been hearing Miller/Jennings from the rumour mill, although I doubt that timing would work.

Makes sense since Pulev signed with Top Rank.

Well if that happened, we'd be rid of one of them for a while.

Arum hardly works with a lot of promoters most the time. He does more in-house fights.

[oogiebe]

Makes sense since Pulev signed with Top Rank.

Well if that happened, we'd be rid of one of them for a while.

Arum hardly works with a lot of promoters most the time. He does more in-house fights.

It's really too bad, though. "House fighters" get the protection they need to setup bigger fights and we, the public suffer the crappy matchups that result from that, most of the time.

[Mexi-Box]

Shakur Stevenson to fight Jessie Cris Rosales on Jan. 18 card

I'm already sick of Shakur Stevenson. Very boring fighter with Paulie Malignaggi level power. They're going to be shoving this kid down our throats now. I can't wait till someone knocks him off.

[TheBeast]

Rivas is a talent but lack of challenges made him waste time and look sloppy at times. His last fight went well early but he showed a stamina problem that will be very apparent if Jennings comes in this one prepared.

[Mexi-Box]

Rivas is a talent but lack of challenges made him waste time and look sloppy at times. His last fight went well early but he showed a stamina problem that will be very apparent if Jennings comes in this one prepared.

Very true. Only reason Jennings got past Mike Perez was because Perez's horrible shape and stamina. Could be the same here if Rivas' stamina is truly bad.

[oogiebe]

Rivas is a talent but lack of challenges made him waste time and look sloppy at times. His last fight went well early but he showed a stamina problem that will be very apparent if Jennings comes in this one prepared.

Very true. Only reason Jennings got past Mike Perez was because Perez's horrible shape and stamina. Could be the same here if Rivas' stamina is truly bad.

Rivas has a sneaky left hook that he throws behind his looping overhand right. It's a quick combo that is his primary KO punch. He has more than a punchers' chance but certainly doesn't have the same skill set as Jennings. I pick Rivas, but barely.